Whistler is aglow with thousands of twinkly lights, a scene right out of your inner child’s twinkle town dreams. With the mountains open for the ski and snowboard season, spirits are high and this celebratory vibe can be felt throughout the valley. Chase moments that will make your legs tremble and then let the magic of the falling snow and cozy lights take you to a place full of wonder and awe.
You can get as festive as you’d like with roving carolers, wreath-making sessions, Christmas markets, the RMOW’s Afterglow series and Wintersphere. And not only can you ice skate under the stars, but you could even see some real-life ones at the start of the month at the Whistler Film Festival. Come and join us in our snow globe village for one of the cheeriest times of the year!
INSIDER TIP: Keep an eye on our festive page as more events will be added the closer we get to the end of December including what’s happening over New Year’s Eve. For example, Whistler Blackcomb’s Fire & Ice Show is back for this season, with the first one slated for NYE – more details coming.
Here’s what’s happening in Whistler this December.
Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Skiing and snowboarding on Whistler Blackcomb, the birthplace of go big or go home. From dropping into steeps and deeps to carving pristine groomers and floating through glades, there’s an endless variety of terrain to satisfy every thrill seeker’s cravings.
- Taking to the track, the sliding track! Whistler Sliding Centre’s Passenger Bobsleigh experience kicks off on December 13 and is open throughout the season. While their Public Skeleton experience runs Dec 4 and 18 this month. Read what it’s like in our blog, How to Bobsleigh and Skeleton in Whistler.
- Zipping by starlight on a Ziptrek Winter Après Tour. Finish your day on the slopes and then continue the adventure on four ziplines – the perfect way to après. FYI – headlamps are provided!
Adventure Lite
You’ll find us:
- Giving our ski boots a break and wandering through a village that could be mistaken for a real-life snow globe. Download the Go Whistler Tours app and check out our three Festive Light Tours that weave you around some of Whistler’s most sparkly lights.
- Ice skating under the stars at Whistler Olympic Plaza. There’s something simply magical about lacing up your boots and gliding around on the ice with festive tunes playing. Make sure to take a look at the rink hours as it closes twice a day for resurfacing.
- Heading into the lobbies of some of the hotels that have really embraced the season with their festive displays. One of these is the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, which has the Trees of Hope art on display on December 5, a silent auction fundraiser for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
- Working on our golf swing at the Whistler Golf Club and Nicklaus North Golf Course. They both have simulators, which means you can work on your swing game year-round! This a fun experiential gift idea if you’re visiting Whistler over festive with a golfer in tow!
More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- At the Whistler Conference Centre for Wintersphere, a family-friendly, festive pop-up with Santa, entertainers, a holiday café, kids crafts and a holiday maze. Open 9:30 AM to 5 PM, December 17 to 31 (change to hours on December 31, when it’s open noon to 8 PM).
- Christmas crafting at the Holiday Wreath Workshop on December 5 in Creekside Village (they also have a giant wreath version on December 7). If you really enjoy getting your craft on, you could make your Christmas gifts this year at the pottery lessons being held at the Maury Young Arts Centre on December 1, 8, 15 and 22 (options for all ages and adults only).
- Singing out of tune with the fam jam at the Holiday Singapalooza on December 9 at the Maury Young Arts Centre. No experience is required at this sing-along carol session, just festive cheer! Entry is by donation, which goes to the Whistler Food Bank.
- Dropping the kids off at the Discover Luge program, held at the Whistler Sliding Centre for 8- to 14-year-olds on December 3 and 17. Talking of sliding, the Eberspächer Luge World Cup is happening at the Whistler Sliding Centre on December 9 and 10. Athletes from over 20 countries will be hitting speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour as they compete. Tickets are available at the gates on event days at $10 per adult (kids 12 and under are free) If you feel inspired, you can take to the track with their public skeleton and piloted bobsleigh programs.
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More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Catching a flick at the Whistler Film Festival, on until December 4. The lineup includes 86 bold and inspiring films with the big star power of Daniel Craig and Edward Norton (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery), Anna Kendrick (Alice, Darling) and Jon Hamm (Corner Office) to name just a few!
- Shopping at the Whistler businesses taking part in the Whistler Community Foundation’s Shop Local Give Local Day happening on Saturday, December 3. Participating businesses donate 5% of gross sales made on December 3 to the Whistler Community Fund, which supports flexible granting to address Whistler’s evolving community needs.
- Feeling all things winter at the Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery’s Art of Winter exhibition, featuring a variety of Canadian artists working in different mediums.
- At the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre on December 21 for the opening of their new exhibit, UNCEDED: A Photographic Journey into Belonging, and Spo7ez Winter Feast.
- Listening to haunted melodies atop country-soaked, Americana rock n’ roll on December 10 when we go to see TrailerHawk perform at Maury Young Arts Centre. While you’re there, take a look at the gift shop where you get 20 % off between December 10 to 23.
- Après-ing at the Audain Art Museum on December 10. After mingling over delicious snacks from Picnic Whistler and a glass of wine, we’ll be checking out their current exhibit, Out of Control: The Concrete Art of Skateboarding currently on exhibit. Their gift shop is another great place to look for presents and they’re having a sale until December 10.
- Enjoying Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, performed by the Vancouver Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra, a 14-piece string orchestra plus harpsichord, conducted by Ian Parker. They’re playing at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church on December 4, and tickets can be bought online or in person at the Maury Young Arts Centre.
- Taking a trip down festive memory lane with a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’s holiday classic A Christmas Carol at the Whistler Public Library on December 15, 7 to 9 PM. Later in the month, we’ll be at the Winter’s Song Solstice Concert, happening at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church on December 21 with harpist Alison Hunter, flautist Anne-Elise Keefer, and vocalist Jeanette Bruce.
- Chuckling along with local comedian Ira Pettle on December 22 and 29 at the Whistler Conference Centre for two Laugh Out LIVE! comedy nights. The shows start at 8 PM and your ticket includes a drink. Ira is also celebrating his first music album release at the Conference Centre on December 30 at 7 PM. Grab your ticket (by donation) and support local talent!
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Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Taking advantage of the free $100 shopping voucher you get when you stay 3+ nights between November 24 – December 18, 2022. Enter the promo code SHOPWHIS at check-out or call 1.800.944.7853 and mention the offer to the Travel Consultants.
- Deciding between chicken and waffles, lobster benedict or a poké bowl when we sit down to lunch at Joe Fortes Seafood and Chophouse, available Thursday to Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM.
- Browsing a curated collection of artisanal goods at the Bespoke Market at Audain Art Museum on December 2 and 3, 2022. Pick up some unique gifts for loved ones (or treat yourself) while supporting local, and then check out the incredible art collection with access to the galleries included in the $10 market entry fee ($7 if you buy online ahead of time).
- Wine tasting and shopping at Get the Goods Late Night Christmas Sip & Shop events. This treasure trove of a store always has a great selection of gifts, and on these nights (December 8 and 15) you get to interact with local artisans as well as sip on something BC-made!
- Sipping on mulled wine at Alpine Cafe’s Christmas Market on December 4 from 1 to 4 PM. There’s face painting and hot chocolate for the kiddos, and happy hour deals for the adults!
- Journeying to Goa, a tiny, spectacular state on India’s west coast known for its Portuguese-influenced, Indian cuisine with Four Seasons Executive Chef Sajish Kumar Das. The G.O.A Pop-Up Restaurant runs from December 9, 2022 to January 8, 2023 from 5 to 9 PM and reservations are highly recommended.
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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Save the Date
Whistler Pride & Ski Festival | January 22 – 29
Be a Responsible Traveller: Don’t Love It to Death
- Help keep Whistler green by choosing tap water over bottled water, avoiding single-use plastics, leaving the car at home, choosing active transportation and sorting garbage properly to reduce your waste.
- Be AdventureSmart and always practice Leave No Trace principles.
- Consider our Responsible Travel pillars, Respect Nature, Think Environment, Don’t Love It to Death and Support Local.
Travel Updates
- Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination, be required to use the ArriveCAN app, nor be required to wear masks on federally regulated modes of transportation. Random COVID-19 testing at airports is also no longer required. Visit whistler.com/covid for the latest COVID-19 information and resources for travellers.
- Fully vaccinated, American travellers no longer require a COVID-19 test to return home to the United States.
If You’re Driving . . .
- Winter tires or chains are required on the Sea to Sky Highway from now until March 31. Make sure to check you have these, especially if you’re using a rental car. Read more on our Road Conditions page.
- Help reduce congestion on the highway by travelling during non-peak times. Peak travel times on the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler include Friday afternoons and evenings, weekends and holidays. To avoid this busy time, plan to visit Whistler midweek when the highway and the resort are typically quieter. Extend your weekend – plan to arrive on Thursday night and leave on Monday morning to avoid the weekend traffic. If you’re visiting Whistler only for the day, plan on staying for dinner to avoid the rush of day traffic leaving the resort after the mountain closes.
- Always check DriveBC for current road conditions before getting on the road. Follow @DriveBC on Twitter and listen to MountainFM for the latest updates.
- Paid parking is in effect in Day Lots 1, 2, 3 (complimentary parking from 5 PM to 3 AM). Parking in Lots 4 and 5 are complimentary until December 15. No parking in Day Lots 1 to 5 between 3 AM to 6 AM from November 1 to March 31. Please check the RMOW website for more information on parking.
- Winter parking regulations begin Nov 1. No even side parking on streets Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. No parking on the odd side of streets year-round.
- Marketplace parking has new tariffs; $1 first 30 min and $2 first hour (15-minute, storefront parking remains free). For shopping at Fresh St. Market, register your license plate in the machine prior to shopping and they will reimburse you for 1 hour with a minimum $25 purchase.
For the best rates on accommodation for the late spring and summer, plan a longer stay or consider staying midweek. Stay 3+ nights to receive a free $100 Activity Voucher and up to 25% off. It's easy to book your vacation when you have the freedom of Whistler.com's Flexible Cancellation options backed by their Book With Confidence program.
