FAQ

The market is located in the heart of downtown at the Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza: 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver BC, V6G 3E1. Hours + Location

All Single Entry online ticket purchases will be arranged through timeslot bookings to help manage the Market’s capacity. When purchasing Single Entry tickets online, you will be prompted to choose a 30-minute timeslot based on available dates and times. Guests must arrive on their chosen date within their timeslot to ensure smooth Market entry, but are welcome to stay as long as they like! Entrance is subject to event capacity.
If you miss your timeslot for a couple of minutes, you can join the line of the next timeslot.

Children 6 and under are allowed into the market for free! When booking your tickets, make sure to book a Child’s ticket for the same time slot as your own ticket. The ticket will be booked and added to your cart free of charge.

A Season Pass is your ticket to enjoy the Market anytime you’d like during our opening hours this season. We’re happy to say there are no blackout days!

Just remember, Season Passes can’t be shared, so make sure to bring your government-issued ID with you when you come to visit.”

If you want to upgrade before you visit the Market, please follow these steps:

Upgrade your Pass Before Your Visit:
If you have created a Showpass account during your checkout:
Log onto your Showpass account to exchange your tickets. Click on “My Orders” and click on “Order Options” underneath your ticket. After that, you can return your ticket and purchase a season pass.

If you checked out as a Guest:
Go to your order confirmation email and click the “connect purchase” button. Connecting the purchase will prompt you to log in to an existing account or to set an account up, it must be the same email as used to purchase. From there, go to my orders then you can proceed to exchange for a new ticket type.

Please Note:
Exchanges are permitted up to 2 hours before the start of the reserved time slot of your existing tickets.
There is a 1-hour time limit to use the temporary exchange credits. If not used within the hour, the exchange credits expire, leaving the tickets untouched.
Exchange credits can only be used for orders of equal or greater value. You cannot initiate a ticket exchange if you have a complimentary, transferred, or free ticket. There are no refunds.

For more info on exchanges and connecting your tickets to a Showpass account please see the following articles:
How to Exchange Tickets
Connecting Your Tickets to Your Showpass Account

Season Pass holders do not need to book timeslots to enter the market. Simply show up on the day you would like to visit and head to the Season Pass priority entrance. There are no blackout days for season pass holders this season.

Season Pass tickets must match the name and valid Government ID of the ticket holder. If you have already purchased a season pass for someone else under your name, get in contact here to have the name changed.
Please note that we can only change the name on season passes that have not been used yet.

The name on General Admission tickets does not need to match the name of the ticket holder. You don’t have to show your photo ID at the entrance. This means you can buy a ticket for your friend under your name and they will be able to enter the market.

Your ticket can be changed to any other date/time that The Vancouver Christmas Market still has tickets available. Please note there is a service fee charged for each exchange and there are different ticket prices depending on the date of your planned visit. If you have an account created, simply log onto your Showpass account to exchange your tickets and visit the invoices tab here. Exchanges are permitted up to 2 hours before the start of the reserved time slot of your existing tickets. If you have checked out as a guest and would like to exchange your tickets, go to your order confirmation email and click the “connect purchase” button. Connecting the purchase will prompt you to login into an existing account or to set an account up, it must be the same email as used to purchase. From there, go to invoices then you can proceed to exchange for a new date or time. You cannot exchange tickets for a time slot that has started, so be sure to make changes in advance! You must exchange your entire order, you cannot select certain tickets in your order to exchange, and you cannot initiate two exchanges at the same time. You will have 1 hour to use the temporary exchange credits. If not used within the hour then the exchange credits expire, and the tickets are left untouched.
You can only use exchange credits for orders of equal or greater value. If you have a complimentary, transferred or free ticket you cannot initiate a ticket exchange. There are no refunds. For more info on exchanges and connecting your tickets to a Showpass account please see the following articles:
How to Exchange Tickets.
Connecting Your Tickets to Your Showpass Account.

Yes, but we do recommend buying tickets in advance because you can book your timeslot, save on admission prices, and skip the Box Office line. Especially at the weekends, multiple timeslots can be booked out. Please check our availabilities prior to your trip to Jack Poole Plaza. There are no additional tickets available on-site.
Visit our tickets page for more details on pricing and timeslot booking. However, you can use credit cards and cash to pay at the box office.

We offer a special group rate for Christmas parties and holiday gatherings for parties of 20 or more. All tickets must be pre-purchased. Please fill out our group bookings form with the details of your event, and we will put together a package for your celebration during Market hours.

Of course! Share the season with your friends. We recommend purchasing a Season Pass on our website as they are not limited to a specific date or time. Please remember to include the recipient’s name when purchasing their ticket, as the name of the attendee will need to match the name on the ticket. You can also buy someone a Single Entry Ticket. Be sure to find out when they want to visit the Market, as you’ll have to select their date and timeslot.

Yes, you can enjoy daily entertainment on our Flying Stage in our Christmas Pyramid this year. Click here or check our social media for regular updates on who’s performing.

Absolutely! We recommend having a look at our Vendors Page to see which vendors offer vegetarian and vegan options at the Market this year.

Please use our contact form to get in touch. Be sure to include the name, email address and phone number you used to purchase your tickets.

Though we encourage our patrons to go cashless, our Box Office accepts cash, credit and debit. We have ATM machines available within the Market for your convenience.

We cannot allow any outside alcoholic beverages to enter the Market. You are welcome to purchase alcoholic drinks including Glühwein, traditional Bavarian beers, and more at various locations throughout the Market. Please note: two pieces of ID will be required – one government issued photo ID plus a second ID (e.g. credit card).

Peak hours at the Market are weekday evenings from 5 pm onwards and all day Friday to Sunday. Please note that the Market is at its busiest the final week before Christmas.

To ensure you have the Vancouver Christmas Market experience you desire, without waiting in long lines, we recommend coming to the market in the afternoon during weekdays.

Yes, you can. You’ll need to get a re-entry stamp from security at the gate near the waterside Cactus Club exit. Re-entry is only from this gate. Re-entry stamps are only valid for same-day re-entry.

Children must be two years or older and no shorter than 36 inches (or 91 centimetres) to ride the Carousel. However, the Christmas Carousel is certainly not only for the young ones. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the ride.

Service animals are permitted. Due to food and liquor licensing, dogs or other pets are not allowed in the Market area.
We do, however, have a pet accessories vendor at the Market – so you can treat your best friend to a little gift when you get home.

Yes, free stroller parking is available at the market. Please note that no attendant will monitor the stroller parking.

There are multiple benches throughout the market. Visitors are also welcome to find seating in the heated Alpen Haus and the Winterdeck area.
The Alpen Haus is a heated area with chairs and tables to sit, socialize and enjoy the great food offered by our vendors.

Yes! Jack Poole Plaza is considered a fully accessible venue – and Vancouver Christmas Market implements additional measures to make it even more accessible. There are wheelchair accessible toilets on site.

Please bring your Registered Caregiver Card and show it to our staff person at the gate. If there is more than one caregiver who would like complimentary admission when visiting with clients, please have them bring their card as well.

We strongly suggest your client pre-book their visit to avoid having to bypass the Box Office and ensure smooth Market entry. As a caregiver, you will not need to pre-book – you can just show your Registered Caregiver Card.

We’re sorry you’ve lost something! Contact us here or at the Info Hut on site at the market.