Holiday magic comes alive on Grouse Mountain
Peak of Christmas bigger than ever
The Peak of Christmas on Grouse Mountain is quickly becoming an annual tradition for citizens of Vancouver looking for a festive winter wonderland. There is no shortage of holidaythemed events and attractions in the city, but something about snow on the ground and crisp mountain air just feels right. There is so much to do on Grouse Mountain it will be hard to fit it all into just one day. Several new activities this year are sure to be major hits, such as The Light Walk. A winter stroll is a lovely thing, but walking around Blue Grouse Lake and taking in the sights of lanterns, a light tunnel and beautifully lit trees take the phrase “walking in a winter wonderland” to the next level. As it would be difficult to fully appreciate the splendor during daylight hours, this dazzling array of holiday lights is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Another new activity you can partake in this year is whooshing down groomed terrain in the Sliding Zone. Kids (or the kid in you) will love the high-speed thrill of sliding down the lanes on your magic carpet (which are only available for rent, no outside sliding carpets permitted). Old favourites return as you can lace up your skates and try out the 8,000 square foot outdoor ice skating rink. If you don’t feel like lugging your skates around all day, they also have skate rentals available. If you’d rather sit back and relax, you can go on a mountaintop sleigh ride (weather permitting). If you’re looking for more traditional holiday fare, The Peak of Christmas has you covered (and then some!) Kids can enjoy a wide variety of Christmas crafts at Elf Headquarters, learn fun facts about Santa’s Reindeer or have breakfast with the big red giftgiving machine himself. From Dec. 14-24, early risers can start their day at 9 a.m. by partaking in breakfast with Santa. It will be busy, so be sure to book your breakfast online (www.grousemountain.com/breakfastwith-santa). If you prefer to eat breakfast at home, you can still meet Santa in person from noon-8 p.m. and have your photo taken with him (by donation, with all proceeds going to SOS Children’s Village). If you think Peak of Christmas would leave out the iconic carols and movies of the holiday season, think again. On select days there are special choir performances in the chalet from 1-3 p.m., and every day from 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. you can watch family Christmas classics on the big screen in the mountaintop theatre. The Peak of Christmas runs until Jan. 4, with some events only on until Dec. 24. There is a special Family Ticket Rate for $79.95 (valid for 2 adults and 2 children up to 18 years old). If you have an Annual Local’s Pass, Y2Play, Alpine Experience tickets or Winter Season Pass, access to the Peak of Christmas is included. For all other ticket inquiries, please call 604.980.9311.