Bright Nights in Stanley Park

The entrance to Bright Nights, some of the beautiful light displays, I love the classic displays that have been around for years.

This weekend we got to enjoy another family tradition, one I hope will continue as long as the trains keep running. We went to Bright Nights in Stanley Park.

My family has been going since I was a kid, and Jason and I started going the first Christmas we had as a couple dating. It is something I always look forward too. We have gone on crisp clear nights, in the pouring rain, and in the snow. We have even gone on Christmas eve at 10pm… that was a fun experience.

You can order your tickets online through Ticketmaster, or if you go the day of that you you are wanting to ride they hold half the tickets for day of sale. After our experience this year, I would suggest getting your tickets day of if you can go down to the site for right when they start selling to be sure you get the time you want. Ticketmaster sadly adds on way too many fees now so this will be our new plan for next year. I would also suggest finding a night that there isn’t a Canucks game, and all the traffic for getting into the downtown area. Ooops we forgot about that for our trek into Stanley Park.

Get to the park early, if you do order your tickets online, so that you can pick them up at the will-call. It also gives you a great chance to walk around and see all of the lights. One staff member recommended getting there early, but be sure to watch the signs that are up for train riding times. It was suggested to watch for the end of your train time if you have little ones who will not do well waiting in line. This way you can rush in at the very end and not have to worry about waiting too long. Really the wait isn’t that bad, but it is a good tip we may have to use in the future.

Waiting in line for our time to ride, yes Mommy was a sap and cried.

It is cold! Be sure to bundle up warm. We had our daughter bundled up in a warm polar fleece suit, winter boots, and a toque. We also had a blanket to wrap her in. For us adults, I bought some of those hand and foot warmers you open and they heat up when exposed to air. You will be thankful to have them to warm cold hands that have been out of mittens to take photos.

This years theme may be my favourite to date for the train ride. My whole family enjoyed it. A Charlie Brown Christmas. We all enjoyed the music that was played throughout the train ride, the displays scattered through out the decorations, that are also mixed with the collection of other decorations and lights from over the years. Our daughter I think loved it most of all! Her little head was constantly turning every direction to be sure to see everything there was to look at. As soon as the music started, she was dancing a long to it. I had to hold onto her pretty tight because if she could she would have hopped off to go dance with Snoopy on stilts.

The pond the train rides past was actually frozen this year. Our daughter loving the train ride, Can’t miss the bright red reindeer.

We made many great memories last night. It is a great family time, or something to go check out with friends. You can check our Bright Nights on Facebook here and Online here. Be sure to donate to the Burn Fund as you walk in, say hello to some of the Firefighters who will welcome you, and of course get a candy cane.