Stanley Park Bright Nights

-continued from Stanley Park BC

Every December, Stanley Park's Miniature Railway becomes the "Christmas Train" with seasonal decorations as the train wends its way through the woods. Santa is in residence in his "living room" at the Train Station. And the entire area is bright with over a million Christmas lights.

Where is the Christmas Train, and Bright Nights?

Bright Nights, and the Christmas Train, take place in the Miniature Train area of Stanley Park.

The Miniature Train is located not far from the Vancouver Aquarium and Lumberman's Arch; see Stanley Park Family Fun.

While the 10-minute, mile-and-a-quarter Miniature Train ride is fun for little kids year-round, twice a year it transforms into a popular night-time event. Even older kids like the Halloween Ghost Train and the "Christmas Train", aka as Stanley Park "Bright Nights" because of the sparkling display of lights created every year to benefit the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund.

How to Enjoy Stanley Park Bright Nights

• Visitors are free to stroll through the displays of lights without riding the train: you may wish to make a donation to the Burn Fund, but it's not required. The suggested minimum donation is $4.
• parking is free after 3 p.m.
• Dates for Bright Nights are from December 2 1022 to January 2 2012, (closed Christmas Day). Hours are from 3 pm to 10 pm, 11 pm on Friday and Saturday.
• Snacks include hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts and popcorn sold by the Stanley Park Ecology Society.
• Choirs and bands add to the fun on special nights
• New in 2011: kids can visit the North Pole, which features Santa and a parade of trees.

The "Christmas Train" Ride

• Rates are . $9/adult, $6 for kids 2 to 18* (Canadian $)
• Tickets are sold for half-hour time slots
• Tickets sell out fast; fortunately, you can buy online. See Stanley Park Bright Nights for a purchase link.
• Same day ticket sales: each day, tickets for that night's rides go on sale at noon on a first-come first-served basis.

This means that -- even if you don't buy tickets in advance-- if you arrive early, you should have a good chance of riding the train that night. While waiting for the train ride you can play at a nearby playground, stroll the seawall, or even drive to a nearby restaurant and return for your time slot.

And of course, once it's dark, you can enjoy the displays of a million sparkling lights in Stanley Park's forest setting.

--check prices for Vancouver BC hotels, at Kayak.com

*Always check event websites for updates!