Santa in the Village

Holly jolly locals and visitors will be flocking to Steveston Village on December 7 for one of Metro Vancouver’s biggest and most beloved holiday celebrations. Santa in Steveston is a warm and welcoming Christmastime community party––complete with a stocking-full of free and budget-friendly activities for all the family.

Mark your calendar, dig out your boldest festive sweater and gather everyone you know for a great day out in Richmond’s historic waterfront village. And just to make sure you don’t miss anything while you’re here, read on for our handy rundown of all the day’s shiniest features.

Here comes Santa Claus

Whatever you do, don’t miss the 1:00pm arrival of Santa Claus at Fisherman’s Wharf––he’ll be appearing in a surprisingly dramatic way! Replacing the mode of transport he’s most famous for, the red-robed superstar will sail up to the village shoreline in a boat before disembarking to greet the cheering crowds.

Santa will then head to the nearby Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site where––from 2:00pm to 4:00pm––he’ll be holding court in the Boiler House Theatre for free photos (bring your own camera/phone). Cannery admission is free all day on December 7, so make sure you peruse the onsite Steveston Festival of Trees while you’re here. The trees are decorated by local organizations, and you can vote for your favourite.

You can also explore the rest of the festive-forward village via a lovely horse-drawn tour on December 7. The rides, which will operate between noon and 4:00pm, are available by-donation ($10 per person is suggested), with all proceeds benefitting the Richmond Christmas Fund.

You’ll also want to check out another returning feature during your visit. Starting promptly at 11:45am, the Christmas Classic Car Cruise––complete with decorated vintage and modern-day vehicles––will trundle through the village for around 15 minutes. The cars will then park up in the Steveston Hotel parking lot for up-close viewing between noon and 2:00pm.

And there’s More

Before you head home, though, don’t forget to check out the rest of Steveston’s chestnut-warming holiday highlights. They’re part of the community’s annual Winter in the Village extravaganza, a full menu of free or low-cost seasonal activities running from now until December 31.

That includes Moncton Street’s Steveston Tram pavilion, rebranded as Winter Tram throughout December. The red-painted, century-old Tramcar 1220 will be fully decorated for the season, and there will be hands-on exhibits, a conductor costume corner, a fun scavenger hunt and a display of local landmarks cleverly recreated in LEGO.

A 10-minute walk away, you’ll also find Holiday Crafts at Murakami House, located at the admission-free Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. Drop by between 11:00am and 4:00pm on December 7 and you and your kids can create an origami Santa or a paper chain decoration to take home. This activity will also be operating on December 6, 13 and 14.

Exploring the village on foot, you’ll also find selfie stations, light installations (don’t miss Town Square Park) as well as creative holiday displays in many local shop windows. Don’t be surprised to find yourself snapping lots of extra photos––please share them on your social feeds with our #WinterintheVillage and #RichmondMoments hashtags.

You might also want to visit London Farm. The charming heritage site is a 10-minute drive from the heart of the village and, on December 7, they are hosting four sittings of their extremely popular Jingle Bell Afternoon Tea in their antique-lined dining room. Expect house-baked treats and delicious tea, but be sure to make your reservation as early as possible. Dates are also available on December 13 and 14.

If you still have some gift shopping to do, these stores are ideal for covering off those stubborn holdouts on your gifting list. You’ll find everything here from artisan chocolate to handcrafted jewelry and from one-of-a-kind artworks to restaurant gift certificates for some of Richmond’s most popular eateries. Check out our local gift guide here.

While Santa in Steveston is a local highlight every year, don’t worry if you can’t make it on December 8. There are lots of additional holiday happenings––under the Winter in the Village banner––running between now and the end of 2025.

COME BACK SOON

While Santa in Steveston is a holiday highlight for many locals and visitors, don’t worry too much if you can’t make it here on December 7. There are lots of additional Winter in the Village happenings to consider from now until the end of the year––check out this handy online calendar for a full array of ideas.

You’ll find everything from Songs in the Snow music performances to Winter Tram’s Polar Express story readings, and from a Filipino Christmas Celebration at the Cannery to a delightful Holiday Dog Parade (complete with the opportunity to snap some super-fun pet photos with Santa).

Whatever you decide to do, though, make sure you save time for a seasonal pit stop while you’re here. Under the Steveston Sips banner, more than a dozen local bars, cafés and restaurants will be serving special limited edition holiday drinks from now until the end of 2025. It’s the perfect way to toast your visit to the region’s favourite shoreline holiday village!

Last Updated on January 2, 2026 by Tourism Richmond