The Vancouver Christmas Market returns for its ninth year at Jack Poole Plaza from November 21 to December 24—this time around with extended hours, a love lock installation, and a slew of festive treats and events in tow.

Inspired by traditional Christkindlmarkts, the yuletide event will open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily, and feature more than 80 huts serving up festive treats like Glühwein, German bratwurst, schnitzel, and chimney cakes, as well as an assortment of handcrafted goods.

New to this year’s fete are Lovers’ Lane, a nine-metre-long tunnel decorated with more than 10,000 lights and a mistletoe, and a love-lock installation where attendees may attach locks as a symbol of their commitment to one another. There’s also the Alpine Lounge, a heated area where guests can go to warm up and enjoy food and beverages, and the adjacent Winterdeck, where a fanciful entrance arch, giant light-up picture frame, and unobstructed views of the North Shore should offer tons of Instagram ops.

Santa Claus, meanwhile, will be present on an almost four-metre-long sleigh floating underneath the Olympic Cauldron. The nine-metre-tall Walk-In Christmas Tree, which made its debut at the market last year, also returns with more than 36,000 twinkling lights. In addition, visitors can expect to find past Christmas-Market favourites like the Christmas carousel and a “flying stage” that will play host to live entertainment throughout the season.

The new Kinder Kraft Igloo will keep kids busy with market-wide scavenger hunts and free arts-and-crafts sessions.

Food, of course, will be aplenty thanks to first-time vendors like Charcuterie Haus, Bon Macaron Patisserie, Organic Villa Vegan Haus, and Howling Moon Craft Cider. They’ll join others serving Gulasch, Spätzle, strudels, and more.

The Vancouver Christmas Market is also introducing a series of special events and days—including "Club Christmas" Thursdays and an appearance by Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson—for this year’s season:

Children’s Wish Weeks

From November 23 to December 7

Donations will be accepted onsite to the Vancouver Christmas Market's charity partner, the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada. Organizers have a goal of raising $10,000.

 
Free Carousel Fridays

November 23 and 30, and December 7

Carousel rides on the Christmas carousel will be offered by donation to Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.

 
Shopping Day

November 25

To help you get your Christmas shopping done, select gift vendors at the market will offer special one-day-only deals.

 
Foodie Tuesdays

November 27 and December 4

Select food vendors will offer their festive bites and beverages for $4 and under.

 
Club Christmas

November 29, and December 6, 13, and 20

Thursday evenings at the market will feature a lineup of DJs onstage, post-work drinks, and karaoke at the Alpine Lounge.

Kids Day

December 1

Kids who are 13 years and old and under will be able to enter the market and enjoy rides on the Christmas carousel by providing a donation to Children’s Wish Foundation.

Deluxe Date Night

December 5

Guests will be able to enjoy two-for-one entry at the gate, as well as an assortment of "deals for duos", including two-for-one carousel rides, pretzels, ciders, and other discounts.

Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson visits the market

December 7

In support of Children’s Wish Weeks, Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson will be onsite to help make a child’s wish come true. Visitors who make a donation to Children’s Wish Foundation will have the chance to go head-to-head with Erik as they try to score against him in an impromptu shootout. 

Tickets to the Vancouver Christmas Market start at $5 online. The event, which began at Queen Elizabeth Plaza in 2009 before relocating to its 55,000-square-foot site at Jack Poole Plaza two years ago, attracted more than 220,000 visitors last season.

The Vancouver Christmas Market takes place from November 21 to December 24 at Jack Poole Plaza. For details, see the Vancouver Christmas Market website.