Holidays, Vancouver

New Year’s Eve on BC’s Mainland: Mountain Fireworks, Coastal Getaways, and City Celebrations

December 31, 2025

New Year’s Eve in Vancouver and across British Columbia’s Mainland is less about one massive countdown and more about choosing the experience that fits your style. From mountaintop fireworks above the city to intimate coastal dinners on the Sunshine Coast, lively skating downtown, and meaningful ways to welcome the year outdoors, celebrations unfold in many forms.

Whether you’re looking for high-energy festivities, a refined culinary experience, or a quiet moment by the ocean, BC’s Mainland offers unforgettable ways to close out the year and step confidently into the next.

Here’s where and how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Vancouver, the North Shore mountains, and the Sunshine Coast.

New Year’s Eve in Vancouver: Mountain and City Celebrations

Grouse Mountain: A Centennial New Year’s Eve on the Peak of Vancouver

This New Year’s Eve holds special significance at Grouse Mountain oas the resort begins celebrations marking its 100-year anniversary. Just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse delivers one of the most complete and atmospheric New Year’s Eve experiences in the region.

Festivities begin in the early evening and continue past midnight, with extended operating hours and special evening access available for late-night guests. Visitors can enjoy night skiing and snowboarding, ice skating on the mountaintop pond, and a lively après-style atmosphere set against panoramic city views.

A highlight of the evening is the two fireworks displays: an early show ideal for families, followed by a midnight fireworks display that illuminates the snow-covered peaks while Vancouver sparkles below. Throughout the night, guests can explore illuminated walking areas, warm up by outdoor fire pits, and enjoy seasonal programming across the mountain.

Dining options range from casual venues to sit-down experiences offering special New Year’s Eve menus. With its blend of winter adventure, entertainment, and breathtaking scenery, Grouse Mountain remains one of Vancouver’s most iconic places to welcome the New Year.

Cypress Mountain: Fireworks, Music, and an Early Countdown

For those who prefer an energetic celebration without a late night, Cypress Mountain offers a festive New Year’s Eve experience that pairs winter sports with music and fireworks.

The evening features a DJ creating a lively après-ski atmosphere, food and beverage specials in the lodge areas, and an early evening fireworks display. This earlier timing makes Cypress particularly appealing for families or visitors who want to celebrate and still be home at a reasonable hour.

Guests can spend the day skiing or snowboarding, enjoy the fireworks in the evening, and wrap up the night on their own schedule, a relaxed but celebratory way to close out the year.

Robson Square: Downtown Skating Under the City Lights

For a classic winter experience in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Robson Square Ice Rink offers a festive way to spend New Year’s Eve.

Surrounded by city lights and seasonal décor, the open-air rink stays open late during the holiday period. Skating is free, with skate rentals available on site, making it an easy and accessible option for families, couples, or anyone looking for a celebratory activity earlier in the evening.

Its central location also makes Robson Square an ideal starting point before heading to dinner, a show, or a private celebration elsewhere downtown. Nearby cafés and restaurants offer plenty of options to warm up afterward while soaking in the holiday energy.

Coal Harbour and Canada Place: A Festive Waterfront Stroll

While Vancouver does not host an official public fireworks display at Canada Place this year, the Coal Harbour and Canada Place waterfront remains a popular New Year’s Eve destination for its atmosphere alone.

The illuminated sails of Canada Place, reflections dancing across the harbour, and views of the North Shore mountains create a memorable setting for an evening walk along the seawall. Many nearby hotels, lounges, and restaurants offer special New Year’s Eve menus and extended hours, making this area a favorite for dinner-based celebrations.

Even without a formal event, the waterfront buzzes with people welcoming the New Year in their own way, strolling, gathering with friends, and enjoying the city’s natural beauty as the clock approaches midnight.

Sunshine Coast: Intimate Celebrations by the Sea

Rockwater Secret Cove Resort: Coastal Elegance

For travelers seeking a refined and intimate New Year’s Eve experience, Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on the Sunshine Coast offers a distinctly elevated celebration.

At TuBird Restaurant, guests can enjoy a special New Year’s Eve dinner featuring a curated multi-course culinary experience designed for the occasion. The menu highlights coastal flavors and seasonal ingredients, paired with the resort’s signature attention to detail and oceanfront setting.

Dinner reservations: 604-741-6113 | reservations@tubird.ca

For those turning the celebration into a getaway, Rockwater offers a special accommodation promotion: guests booking a two-night stay between December 29 and January 2 can receive a discounted rate when reserving the New Year’s Eve dinner (excluding Tenthouse stays). It’s an ideal way to slow down, celebrate, and begin the year surrounded by nature.

The experience continues into New Year’s Day, when the resort hosts a New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim at noon, a refreshing plunge into coastal waters followed by warm refreshments on the waterfront. It’s a bracing and memorable way to start the year with a sense of renewal.

Roberts Creek and Gibsons: Small-Town Charm

Beyond Rockwater, the Sunshine Coast offers a quieter, community-focused approach to New Year’s Eve. Towns like Roberts Creek and Gibsons host low-key celebrations that feel personal rather than crowded.

Local pubs and restaurants often feature special menus, live music, and cozy atmospheres that reflect the Coast’s laid-back spirit. While many venues book up early, it’s often worth calling to check for last-minute availability or bar seating.

What truly defines New Year’s Eve on the Sunshine Coast is its natural setting. Winter beaches offer space for reflection, peaceful walks, and meaningful moments, a refreshing alternative to large-scale parties.

Family-Friendly Activity Throughout the Day

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: Canyon Lights

While the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park typically closes early on New Year’s Eve itself, it’s worth noting that Canyon Lights continues through the first days of January. If you’re in Vancouver for multiple days around the new year, visiting during the days immediately following tonight offers a magical experience that combines nature with artistry.

Hundreds of thousands of lights illuminate the bridge, treetop walkways, and cliff-facing paths, creating scenes that feel transported from a fairy tale. The effect is particularly stunning during evening visits, when darkness amplifies the glow and the forest takes on an otherworldly quality.

Beyond Midnight: New Year’s Day Adventures

After the confetti settles and the champagne corks have been swept away, January 1st offers its own opportunities for adventure across BC. The Polar Bear Swim at English Bay in Vancouver attracts thousands of brave souls who plunge into the frigid Pacific waters tomorrow, a tradition that’s equal parts refreshing and shocking.

Many people embrace the “First Day Hike” tradition, exploring trails ranging from easy waterfront walks to challenging mountain ascents. The physical activity provides a perfect reset after celebration, and the crisp winter air clears away any lingering fog from tonight’s festivities.

Special New Year’s Packages to Consider

If you’re still looking for accommodation or planning future getaways, several BC properties offer special packages that extend beyond tonight:

Painter’s Lodge on Vancouver Island is running a “Double the Stay” promotion through February 2026. Book a one-night weekday stay (Sunday-Thursday) and receive your second night free. It’s a fantastic way to explore Vancouver Island’s rugged coastline, and the oceanfront setting provides the perfect escape. Use promo code PLBOGO when booking.

The offer works beautifully for a post-holiday getaway when you need to decompress from all the celebration and return to a calmer pace before diving into the new year’s routines.

Embracing BC’s New Year Spirit

What makes celebrating New Year’s in British Columbia so special isn’t just the spectacular settings or the variety of events, it’s the spirit of optimism and possibility that permeates every celebration. Whether you’re watching fireworks, skiing down a torch-lit mountain in Whistler, or toasting with strangers-turned-friends at a Sunshine Coast resort, you’re participating in a collective moment of hope and renewal.

The final hours of 2025 carry a particular energy throughout BC. There’s anticipation in the air, a sense of building toward something bigger than any individual celebration. Streets that felt quiet yesterday come alive tonight with people ready to mark this transition together.

As you prepare for New Year’s Eve festivities, remember that the best celebrations often combine elements of excitement and reflection, activity and rest, community and personal moments. British Columbia’s mainland offers all of these in abundance, creating the perfect backdrop for bidding farewell to 2025 and welcoming whatever adventures 2026 has in store.

The new year represents a clean slate, a fresh start, and endless possibilities. Where better to embrace that potential than in one of the world’s most beautiful regions, surrounded by mountains, ocean, and people ready to celebrate? Bundle up, venture out, and ring in 2026 with the kind of celebration that creates memories to carry throughout the year ahead.

Happy New Year from all of us at BritishColumbia.com | Here’s to making 2026 unforgettable.

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