The winter solstice is coming up this weekend (Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025), and Vancouver’s beloved lantern festival is back. Now in its 32nd year, the free celebration brings light and warmth to the longest and darkest night of the year with dozens — if not hundreds — of glowing lanterns.
This year, the bright festivities are spread across multiple locations, including Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Centre and Granville Island’s False Creek Community Centre.
“This dance of sun and earth has inspired celebrations of the human spirit throughout the ages,” reads the False Creek Community Centre website. “Our own Winter Solstice Lantern Festival illuminates the night with lanterns, singing, dancing, music and storytelling.”
Created by the Secret Lantern Society, the festival remains artist-led, providing an inclusive space for Vancouver residents to gather, reflect, and seek community.
One of the main festivities is a Secret Lantern Walk, taking place in the Exhibition Hall of the Roundhouse Community Centre. Kicking off at 8 p.m., the walk will feature dancing by the Tiddley Cove Morris Dancers and beautiful lanterns by artist Yoko Tomita, which lead into the dark of David Lam Park.
While you don’t need a lantern to take part in this tradition, you can opt to make your own between 6 and 8 p.m. at the community centre.
Labyrinth of Light
The labyrinth is a key part of the lantern festival, and has long been used as a tool for meditation and prayer across the globe. Visitors can check out two Labyrinths of Light: one at Performance Works on Granville Island (4:30 to 10 p.m.), and one at the Roundhouse Community Centre (6 to 10 p.m.).
Both are created with over 500 pure beeswax candles, symbolizing the release of old attachments and the transition to a new season. To participate, you must purchase a ticket online for $20 per adult and $5 per child (ages six to 13).
Note that tickets are timed to reduce wait times and give everyone a chance to walk through the labyrinth and reflect in this self-guided ceremony.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive at the labyrinth of their choice 15 minutes before their scheduled time slots.
Lantern-making workshops
According to the Secret Lantern Society, participants can create their own organic headdresses and lanterns at both community centres ($5 at the False Creek Community Centre and by donation at the Roundhouse Community Centre) while supplies last, starting at 6 p.m.
All materials will be provided, so all you have to do is show up! You can choose between making a globe or a star-shaped lantern, a nature lantern, or a headdress.
Just make sure you register online at least 24 hours in advance of the workshop schedule to ensure the workshop of your choice doesn’t get cancelled.
If you’d rather purchase a lantern, you can do so at the front desks of both community centres, where handmade lanterns are $30 a pop.
Mark your calendars!
When: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025
Time: Starts at 6, 6:30, and 8 p.m., depending on location
Where: 1318 Cartwright St. and 181 Roundhouse Mews
Cost: Free admission, $20 per person for the Labyrinth of Light
Recent Posts:
Free Christmas lights to check out in and around Vancouver this holiday season
Vancouver now has non-stop flights to Costa Rica aboard this popular airline
