Early Festive Feels and Deals: Twinkly Lights and Cozy Nights

Coming to Whistler in late November through mid-December means you get all the festive feels, along with some great deals. Whistler Blackcomb is open for skiing, snowboarding and sightseeing (opening day is November 22, 2024), and thousands of twinkling lights turn Whistler into a magical, winter wonderland that can’t help but bring on the festive cheer.

At the same time, there’s good value on accommodation and Whistler.com’s shop local voucher gives you $100 toward your gift-buying this season if you stay for three nights or more. Book yourself a room with a fireplace, hot tub, view of the mountains and make it a cozy, Canadian getaway.

Admire Whistler’s Festive Lights

Lights, lights and more lights – 350,000 to be exact – that’s how many you’ll find strung around Whistler Village. Download the free, Go Whistler Tours app, which has three, self-guided routes that take you around the best of Whistler’s festive lights. The app even has suggestions for where to get a warming hot chocolate. Read more about these tours in Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

NEW – Whistler Winterlight

New for this season is the Whistler Winterlight event, happening on Friday, November 29 from 6 to 8 PM at Olympic Plaza. This event serves as a kick-off to Whistler’s winter season, inviting the community to gather and light up the night. Whistler Olympic Plaza, with its outdoor skating rink, will be the perfect setting to celebrate the start of winter with funky light installations, interactive activities, DJ Foxy Moron and a Ferris wheel, from where you’ll be able to get a bird’s eye view of the festive lights throughout the Village Stroll. 

If you enjoy the Village light display, you’ll love Vallea Lumina, an immersive multimedia night walk in the forest. Watch stories play out over the snow and pursue hidden wonders around every corner. Read more in Magic in the Mountains: Winter Vallea Lumina.

Go Ice Skating and Tobogganing in Whistler Village

Skating brings back those childhood, holiday feelings of exhilaration and pure, simple delight. The outdoor rink at Whistler Olympic Plaza typically opens in late November, and you can bring your skates or rent them. Situated in the Village with views of the mountains as a backdrop, it’s got that magical, snow-globe feel and on a clear night, you’ll be skating under the stars.

Right next door is the Snow Zone, a tobogganing heaven for kids and big kids alike. It starts as soon as there’s enough snow to mould into small hills and icy gullies, perfect for a few cool rides.

Whistler Sliding Centre

If you want to take sliding to the next level, you can take to the track in December with public skeleton and piloted bobsleigh programs at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

This year, the North America Cup for Bobsleigh and Skeleton will be on ice from November 22 to 29, a chance to see athletes hurtling down the Olympic track. Spectating and sightseeing are free during scheduled sliding sessions, and the guest services building (with washrooms and a small shop selling snacks and merchandise) is open from 9 AM to 6 PM on sliding days.

Grab a map and walk beside the track learning about sliding history, get a photo at the Olympic rings and sit in a bobsleigh imagining what it would feel like to hit G-forces on the course! It’s good to note that the public areas along the track are stroller and wheelchair friendly, however in the winter it may be impacted due to weather and snow events. Check their On Track page before you head there.

You can get to the Sliding Centre by taking the Excalibur Gondola to Blackcomb Base II (you don’t need a lift ticket as long as you’re not in ski gear, just tell them where you’re going). When you exit the gondola at the first stop, walk straight across the ski slope and through parking Lot 7, which is located directly in front of you (level with the gondola). Turn left (up the hill) on Glacier Lane and you will see the Sliding Centre as you reach the crest of the hill, on the right-hand side of the road.

You can also take the BC Transit bus system to “Staff Housing”/Route 7, followed by a short walk to the venue. For information on timetables and fares visit the BC Transit website.

Shop Local Artisans

Carefully picking out the perfect gift for a loved one and supporting a local artisan at the same time – it’s a guaranteed double dose of the warm and fuzzies. You can shop everything from scented candles to original paintings and prints in boutiques and galleries along the Village Stroll and at these upcoming events:

Whistler Holiday Market | November 30 and December 1

Bratz Biz Youth Artisan Market (in conjunction with the Whistler Holiday Market) | November 30 and December 1

Creekside Village Shop Local: The Mom Market | December 1

Whistler Bespoke Market: December 7 and 8

The Maury Young Arts Centre, located opposite the Brewhouse, has a year-round, Sea to Sky, artisan shop in its lobby. If you go there, make sure to enquire about any upcoming performances, shows and workshops. The Audain and Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre also have lovely gift shops featuring unique and locally-made items.

Christmas Cocktails

Festive Workshops and Shows

Scents play a big part in the festive season; the smell of nutmeg and ginger reminds us of Grandma’s Christmas cookies, and fir and cedar the glow of the Christmas tree. You can capture these scents in your very own luxury candle on December 10 at the Audain, with their Tallu Holiday Candle Making Workshop.

Arts Whistler always has a great festive lineup of shows and events, including O Come All Ye Soulful on December 12. Join two Western Canadian Music Award-winning powerhouses—vocalist Dawn Pemberton and bassist/bandleader Jodi Proznick—along with an all-star band for a joyful, soulful twist on the holiday classics.

More festive celebrations will come up on the events calendar, so make sure to keep checking back to see what new things have been added.

Celebrate the Ski and Snowboard Season

The true gift of winter – the ability to ski and snowboard. Both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are due to be open for skiing, riding and sightseeing on November 22, 2024 (subject to change). Get your season started early and take advantage of the quieter slopes in the early season, especially if you come midweek. If you’ve got a 5 or 10-Day Edge Card remember that you could have unlimited early-season skiing or one early bonus ski day to use (this depends on when you bought your pass – check with Whistler Blackcomb).

Whistler Film Festival

Talking of cozy nights, the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) is adding its own stars to Whistler’s starry skies from December 4 to 8, 2024. Read about what happened at last year’s festival in our dedicated blog.

For more events happening at this time of year take a look at our early-season events calendar. It’s definitely a holly, jolly time of year.

Relax Before Festive

The festive season is fun, but it can get a little hectic. Take a breather up in Whistler. Get out for some crisp, winter walks, stretch those muscles on the slopes or the Valley Trail, pamper yourself at one of Whistler’s spas or simply soak in your natural surroundings.