Going to Bright Nights in Stanley Park is a Christmas tradition for us. It is something we all look forward to each year when the holiday season rolls around. There is something about seeing millions of twinkling lights and the whistle of a train, all while bundled up so we don’t freeze that puts us in the holiday spirit.
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
While this year the ride did not feel like it had an exact direction or theme, we still enjoyed taking in all of the sights. We all agreed that we would love to see a Charlie Brown Christmas theme as there were some subtle hints of it through portions of the ride. The tunnel that is usually covered in paintings that glow from the black lights had none this time.
It left the girls even asking why there weren’t any? To which I had no answer, but it was something I kept thinking about. Maybe this year there were not enough volunteers to set everything up on time? Maybe there were not enough props as I know things have sadly been stolen in the past.
This time there were fewer food trucks too. We had been looking forward to getting something to eat for dinner while there. Instead, we got chimney cakes to enjoy and warm us up a bit and grabbed dinner to go on the way home from a drive-through restaurant. We’d love to see more food trucks back at this event. I understand it may be pricey to be there, but perhaps a balance can be found between the cost of food and being a part of the Bright Nights event? We can’t be the only guests who left hungry and in search of dinner elsewhere.
MERRY AND BRIGHT
CHRISTMAS IS TOO SPARKLY… SAID NO ONE… EVER!
There are always two highlights when visiting Bright Nights 1) the train ride 2) all of the lights. If it were possible the girls would love to just keep going round and round on the train. While that isn’t possible, we do take our time looking at all of the light displays.
This year the light tunnel is covered in blue lights making everyone look like Smurfs. We have to get a photo beside the giant Santa statue. We also have to check to see if “Left Nutcrackers” is still out of sync from all the other nutcrackers. We all have our favourite displays that we love to see.
This year we realized there’s a little corner we’ve always missed. Tucked a bit down the walkway where you enter the line to board the train is a viewing area where you can see the train go by. It’s a great spot to watch the train one last time before heading back to the car for the drive home.
If you are wanting more information on Bright Nights you can head here, that is also where you need to go to purchase tickets. Many dates and time slots are already sold out. Remember, you can buy tickets the day of, as soon as the ticket booth opens, but those sell out very quickly for prime dates and times too.
