A two-kilometre lakeside stroll lit up by thousands of festive displays, and it won't cost you a cent. Lights by the Lake in Harrison Hot Springs, about two hours east of Vancouver, has grown into the largest free winter lights display in the Lower Mainland, and it's back for another season from November 21, 2026 to January 10, 2027, running daily from dusk until 11 p.m.
The festival wraps the village's waterfront promenade in illuminated installations, all built around an "in the wild" theme that nods to the region's Sasquatch lore. The signature show features the legendary creature living its best outdoor life — camping by a fire, hiking, biking, paddling, skiing, fishing and windsurfing — which doubles as a family photo op. New for this year are displays of an oversized holiday train, polar bears, an igloo and towering candy canes.
If you can time your trip to opening night on November 21, the village packs in extras: Sasquatch Santa photos, carol singing, a pet parade, fireworks over Harrison Lake and free hot cocoa for the first thousand arrivals, kicking off at 5 p.m. There's also a free outdoor Starlight Rink for skating, with skate rentals offered on select days.
Stephanie Gallamore, executive director of Tourism Harrison River Valley, says the festival was created to celebrate the area's natural beauty and Sasquatch history, and the goal is to keep it free and open to everyone — a refreshing change from ticketed light festivals that can run a family a fair amount before anyone sets foot inside.
Car-free travellers have an option too: Parkbus runs a special two-day trip to Harrison that bundles the lights with the largest winter gathering of bald eagles in the world, which happens nearby each season. Driving? Take the Trans-Canada Highway (BC-1 E) from Vancouver; it's roughly a two-hour run.
For anyone in the Vancouver area hunting for a low-cost festive evening out, this is about as easy as it gets — a scenic village, a hot-springs lake backdrop and a waterfront walk that costs nothing. Pair it with an eagle-watching day trip and you've got a proper winter weekend.
