Last update: December 4th, 2023 at 01:27 pm

Looking for 2023 Whistler Christmas events? Me too!

We have been visiting Whistler Village in December every year for at least the past decade. Between the festive decor and the snow-covered village – we find that a little Whistler ski resort getaway really helps to put us in the holiday spirit.

Whether you are looking for things to do on Christmas Day in Whistler, or like us, are just visiting Whistler during the festive season, you will find tons of fun in the following guide. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Things to do in Whistler at Christmas

Ski with Santa Whistler

Santa Day is back for 2023! A free lift ticket will be gifted to the first 100 people to arrive at the Garibaldi Lift Company near the Whistler Village Gondola dressed in full Santa or Mrs. Claus attire on December 15th.

See Whistler Blackcomb Events for full details.

The Whistler Village Stroll

Grab a hot chocolate and take a stroll down Main Street to enjoy the gorgeous Christmas lights. These beautiful displays are made possible by over 350,000 twinkling holiday lights adorning trees, buildings and landmarks all over town.

Be sure to download the free, Go Whistler Tours app, which has three, self-guided routes that take you around the best of Whistler’s festive lights during this magical time of the year. The app even has suggestions for where to get your hot chocolate fix.

Wintersphere

Wintersphere at the Whistler Conference Centre is the ultimate winter wonderland experience for the whole family. Activities include visits from Santa, entertainers, a holiday café, kids crafts, a holiday maze and much more.

Wintersphere is open from Dec.23rd, 2023 – Jan. 6th, 2024 (closed on Dec. 25th). As of this update, the times for this season have not been announced but I will update this as soon as I can.

Wait…I almost forgot the best part! This is a free event!

Learn more about Wintersphere at the Whistler Conference Center at Whistler.com.

Photos with Santa Fundraiser

Looking for family photos with Santa in Whistler?

Join Santa from December 22-24th for a joyful portrait session at Blackcomb Spring Suites. No reservations necessary. Here are the dates and times:

• Friday, December 22 – 4:00pm to 6:30pm
• Saturday, December 23 – 4:30pm to 6:30pm
• Sunday, December 24 – 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Pricing:

• 2 digital images for $45.00
• 3 digital images for $55.00

$5.00 from every purchase will be donated to the food bank! Your donations to the Whistler Food Bank are greatly appreciated. 

Learn more at: Photos with Santa Whistler.

Christmas Market Whistler

Looking for the perfect handmade Christmas gift? The Bespoke Market will be showcasing artwork, jewellery, crafts and other one-of-a-kind pieces from dozens of vendors during a festive, two-day holiday event.

This very special Whistler Christmas Market will be hosted in the stunning Audain Art Gallery (entry includes access to the galleries) on Dec. 9th, 2023 (12-7pm) & Dec. 10th, (10am – 5pm).

Tickets are $10 at the door, $15 for both days. Children 12 and under are free. Discounted online early bird rates will also be offered.

Learn more at: BespokeMarket.ca

Trees of Hope

Trees of Hope, an annual event presented by Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Mountain Galleries is a unique art auction featuring art by fifteen invited artists who painted their version of a “Tree of Hope.”

Their paintings have been donated to a silent auction, with all proceeds going to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, which provides palliative and respite care services for sick children in BC. Their artwork is on display in the Chateau from Dec. 5-31st.

Ice Skating at Olympic Plaza

Grab your ice skates and enjoy the festive indoor/outdoor skating rink at Whistler Olympic Plaza is open from November 24th until mid-March 2024 (weather dependent).

Admission is $2, skate rentals are $9, helmets and skating aids are available free of charge. Please see Tourism Whistler for hours.

Whistler Fire and Ice Show

Enjoy an impressive display of skills as Whistler’s top skiers and riders spin and twist through a burning hoop. This music-filled evening ends with a specular, not-to-be missed fireworks show.

The Fire & Ice Show happens every Sunday evening starting at 7pm in Whistler’s Skier’s Plaza (base of the Whistler & Excaliber gondolas), from New Year’s Eve through mid-March.

Learn more on the Whistler Tourism website.

Vallea Lumina

This unique Whistler attraction involves a multimedia presentation and immersive light show set in the forested surrounds of Cougar Mountain.

The Vallea Lumina Winter Story runs from October to May. Shows run every 15 minutes between 6 and 8:45pm throughout the Whistler Christmas season.

Tickets can be booked online at vallealumina.com. See also reviews for Vallea Lumina on Tripadvisor and enjoy a little peek at the experience in this 2 minute video.

Bobsledding and Skeleton

Did you know that Whistler Sliding Centre is the only place in Canada where the public can try bobsledding and skeleton? After a thorough orientation, guests will either hop in as a passenger (bobsled) or slide solo (skeleton) down the twists and turns of the track at over 100km/hr!

Learn more at Whistler Sliding Centre.

More Fun Activities in Whistler

If you are looking for something more adrenalin-inducing over the holidays, you may also want to check out these top booking activities from Viator.com!

Note: The “axe throwing” cracks me up a bit. I mean, the holidays can be stressful, right? Why not work some of that out?

• Spectacular Private Whistler Helicopter Tour
• One Hour of Axe Throwing
• Ziptrek Zipling Tour Whistler
• Whistler Wilderness Snowmobile Tour
• Whistler Year-Round Sightseeing Tour

Hotel Holiday Festivities

Many of the hotels in Whistler offer festive events exclusively for guests throughout the month of December. That said, there are a couple of real standouts that do just a phenomenal job (making you never want to even leave the property).

1. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Not only does this property offer a myriad of festive dining options (see the full list), they also have a daily schedule of activities for families from Dec. 15th, 2023 – Jan. 6th, 2024 including christmas crafts, movie nights, cookie decorating, games and more. See the full Fairmont Chateau Whistler Christmas activity guide here.

Guests and non-guests alike can enjoy the Fairmont’s beautiful Mallard Lounge – with its cozy fireplace, festive cocktails and live music. The Mallard is also a great spot for families as parents can sit around one of their outdoor fire pits sipping on something special while their kids have a ball playing in the snow nearby.

Check rates for the Fairmont Chateau Whistler on Booking.com or read reviews on Tripadvisor.

2. Festivities at the Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Resort Whistler is always a lovely place to be, but it’s even more fun with the addition of their cute little vintage patio camper offering hot chocolate and cook-your-own s’mores. Guests can gather around the fire pit to warm up after a long day out adventuring, and enjoy the playful signature hot chocolate, The Tipsy Snowman.

The property also has some amazing family activities for guests throughout the holiday season. See them all here.

Check rates for the Four Seasons Whistler on Booking.com or read recent reviews on Tripadvisor.

Holiday Dining in Whistler

If you are planning on spending your Christmas at Whistler, BC – you might be interested in knowing your options for dining. Here are a few places offering special holiday seatings.

Christmas Dinner Whistler – Dine In

The Four Season will be offering both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining options. See the list here (under the heading “Dining Highlights”).

Festive Dining at the Fairmont Whistler – The Fairmont Chateau Whistler will be hosting Christmas dinner at the cozy Wildflower, the more upscale Grill Room as well as offering a very special gala (with a live orchestra) in the MacDonald Ballroom.

Rimrock Cafe – This celebrated Whistler restaurant is offering a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menu ($225pp).

Hunter Gather in Whistler Village will be offering a full Christmas dinner dine-in service on the 25th ($78pp).

Christmas Day Whistler – Take Out Dinner

Fridge Full will deliver a complete Christmas dinner to your doorstep (home, vacation rental or hotel) on Christmas Eve that’s ready to reheat and serve.

Portobello in Whistler’s Upper Village will be offering their take-away Festive Feast for the holiday season (from Dec. 22nd, 2023 – Jan. 1st, 2024), including either prime rib or turkey plus all their gourmet fixings.

Whistler Christmas Tree Rentals

Planning top be in Whistler for Christmas and want to liven up the decor in your holiday home, hotel room or vacation rental? Whistler Christmas Dream can take care of all of this with a variety of holiday decor rentals packages.