Richmond B.C. Provides the Perfect LGBTQ Winter Escape

Richmond, B.C., located right outside of Vancouver and the home of the Vancouver International Airport, offers a variety of fun and festive experiences suited for the entire family this holiday season. From incredible light displays in the quaint seaside village of Steveston to cozy afternoon tea at the luxurious Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Richmond offers an abundance of holiday cheer!

Beginning Nov. 21 - Dec. 3, stroll through the waterfront village of Steveston and enjoy dazzling holiday displays and festive holiday programming as part of Steveston’s annual Winter in the Village celebration. The Steveston Tram has been transformed for winter – climb abroad and explore the history of interurban travel in Richmond! Don’t miss the junior tram conductor dress-up station and strike a pose with the historic tram, all decked out for the holidays. Additionally within these dates, families can participate in the Spot Solomon the Seasonal Seal Scavenger Hunt to find the hidden seals across six different locations around Steveston for the chance to win a prize. Lastly, celebrate the season with festive holiday drinks from participating locations around Steveston Village during Steveston Sips! While enjoy tasty cocktails, enter for a chance to win a $150 gift basket and take a photo or video of your festive drink to post on social with the hashtag #StevestonSips and tag @visitrichmondbc.

Taking place at the historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, the Steveston Festival of Trees returns from Nov. 30 to Jan. 5, where the historic Cannery is transformed into a winter wonderland. The festival will hold a friendly community competition to win the top vote for their favorite tree. Join the Cannery for a range of activities and performances that will celebrate the diverse stories and celebrations of Steveston and its communities such as ornament crafting, fish tales recipe exchange and more! Enjoy free admission and festive activities – including meeting Santa!- on Dec. 8th.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport offers a wide range of holiday-themed activities for guests and visitors. From Nov. 29 - Dec. 31, experience a festive afternoon tea filled with seasonal treats, delicate pastries, and warm holiday flavors. Looking to have someone else do the cooking this year? Beginning at 4:30 p.m., the Fairmont will be offering guests a Christmas Eve buffet dinner at Globe@YVR, featuring holiday favorites, seasonal dishes, and desserts in a warm, joyful setting.  Make sure Santa knows exactly what you want this year by writing him a letter! Beginning Dec. 1, drop letters in the mailbox of the lobby of the Fairmont and the staff will make sure each is whisked away to the North Pole and delivered to Santa himself. For a full list of events happening this season at the Fairmont, please see their events calendar here.