What's open and closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Metro Vancouver

Merry Christmas!

Now that the presents have been opened, wrapping paper cleared away, and the coffee’s kicked in, what next?

If you’re looking to venture out of the house for some family-friendly holiday activities or planning your Boxing Day pit stops, here’s a roundup of what’s open and what’s closed on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 in Vancouver.

Which days are statutory holidays?

In Canada, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, are statutory holidays, with most employers either giving workers the day off or paying overtime to those who have to work. Boxing Day is a stat in some parts of the country, but not in B.C.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day falls on a Thursday and Friday this year, so it’s likely many people will have an extra long weekend.

Shopping

If you are looking for a belated Christmas gift, you’re out of luck as all malls are closed on Christmas Day (gift cards at convenience stores or drugstores are your best bet).

For Boxing Day, most malls and shopping centres have extended hours.

Cadillac Fairview’s Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver and Richmond Centre will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Boxing Day.

In Burnaby, The Amazing Brentwood will have regular hours on Boxing Day. Metropolis at Metrotown shopping mall is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Boxing Day and has extended shopping hours on the Sunday, Dec. 28, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Guildford Town Centre is open for Boxing Day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. while Coquitlam Town Centre will go from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 26.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet is marking the shopping season with Boxing Week, when the popular mall near the airport will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Dec. 26 to 30.

Over in Delta, Tsawwassen Mills is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Boxing Day. Both megamalls recommend coming later in the evening for a quieter shopping experience.

Most grocery stores close on Christmas Day, but are open with regular hours on Boxing Day.

All Costco stores in the Lower Mainland are closed on Christmas Day and reopen Boxing Day from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Most B.C. liquor stores are also closed on Christmas Day but are open on Boxing Day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the BCL website for your closest location. Private liquor stores are more likely to be open but be sure to check before heading over.

Attractions and museums

The Vancouver Art Gallery will be closed on Christmas Day but is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Boxing Day.

Science World is closed both days.

The Museum of Vancouver is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Boxing Day. Next door, the Maritime Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre returns to regular opening hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Boxing Day. All three museums are closed on Christmas Day.

FlyOver Canada at Canada Place is closed on Christmas Day and reopens Boxing Day from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

There are some attractions open in town on Christmas Day, including the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park, which is open 365 days of the year. It’ll be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day and from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Boxing Day.

For a bird’s-eye view of downtown Vancouver and the snow-covered North Shore mountains, the Vancouver Lookout is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Boxing Day. The last glass elevator going up the tower leaves 30 minutes before closing.

Cineplex theatres are open for Christmas Day movies. Among family-friendly films for the season are Zootopia 2 and The SpongeBob Movie. Check cineplex.com for showtimes. Independents, such as the Rio and Hollywood theatres, are closed.

Restaurants and cafés

Most restaurants and cafés close on Christmas Day, but fast-food stores such as Starbucks, McDonald’s and Tim Hortons usually open on Christmas Day.

Many Tim Hortons locations are open. Check your desired location’s hours here before you go.

Starbucks store hours will vary by location and stores may adjust their hours based on business and customer needs, said the company. Customers craving their peppermint mocha fix can check out Starbucks’ store locator for updated hours.

If you want a proper sit-down meal, your best bets are hotel restaurants and Chinese restaurants, many of which stay open on Christmas Day. Open Table, a restaurant-reservation website, lists over three dozen restaurants open in Metro Vancouver on Dec. 25.

Food critic Mia Stainsby also offers this roundup of Vancouver-area restaurants open for Christmas dinner on Dec. 25.

Community centres and libraries

Most Vancouver Public Library branches are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The only exception is VPL’s Carnegie branch, which does not close for holidays.

Metro Vancouver pools, fitness centres and community centres may be closed over the holidays or have reduced hours, so be sure to check online before heading out. You can check Vancouver community centre holiday hours here.

Only Trout Lake Community Centre is open on Christmas Day, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A few more are open on Boxing Day, including Trout Lake, Mount Pleasant, Killarney and Kerrisdale community centres.

If you’re looking for a swim on Dec. 25, the Hillcrest pool, the Killarney pool, and Vancouver Aquatic Centre are open with reduced hours on Christmas Day. More open on Boxing Day, including Britannia, Lord Byng, Renfrew and Templeton.

The Robson Square skating rink is open for the winter and throughout the Christmas holiday. The rink is open 12 to 5 p.m. on Christmas Day, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Boxing Day. Skating is free, while skate rentals are $5.

City-run rinks are also open Christmas Day and Boxing Day, except Britannia which is closed for maintenance work.

City-owned golf courses and driving ranges are open over the holidays, except for Christmas Day. The clubhouses, however, are closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 22.

Transit

TransLink buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus typically operate on Sunday/holiday schedules on statutory holidays, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Weekend fares are in effect, so riders need only pay for a one-zone fare to travel across the system.

Government offices

Government offices will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26 including Service Canada centres around Metro Vancouver. Check B.C. locations at servicecanada.gc.ca.

All ICBC locations are closed on Dec. 25 and 26, but you can report a claim online 24/7 at icbc.com.

chchan@postmedia.com

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