Port Coquitlam guide
Christmas Ideas and Events in Port Coquitlam, BC, 2026
Port Coquitlam's Christmas season is grouped under Winter in the City, anchored by Christmas in the Square at Leigh Square and the Parade of Lights in early December.
Written by Fern Kellaway
Port Coquitlam's Christmas season is grouped under Winter in the City, a series of events from late November to around Christmas. The two anchors are Christmas in the Square, with its market and tree lighting, and the Parade of Lights in early December.
The short version
- Christmas in the Square and Winter Market: Leigh Square, free, date and time listed differently across City listings, confirm before you go
- PoCo Heritage Christmas Tree Festival: tree voting and tree trail, November 28 to December 14, 2026
- Parade of Lights: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5 pm, free for spectators, route to confirm
- CPKC Holiday Train: Sunday, December 20, 2026, 6:45 pm (end time 7:15 pm or 7:45 pm in different City listings)
- Brighten Up PoCo: December 1 to 12, 2026, home-lights contest
Christmas markets
Christmas in the Square and Winter Market
Christmas in the Square takes place at Leigh Square, 2150 Wilson Avenue, with indoor and outdoor areas at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre. Date and time are listed differently across City listings: the City Community Calendar lists Christmas Market Saturday, November 28, 11 am to 7 pm and Christmas in the Square Saturday, November 28, 5 to 8 pm, plus Christmas Market and More Sunday, November 29, 10 am to 6 pm; the City's own Events list also gave November 29, 2026; third-party pages give November 28, 10 am to 6 pm or November 29. Confirm the date and time before you go. The event is free to attend. It includes a winter market with around 50 local artisan vendors, live entertainment, food vendors, local beverages, and photos with Santa.
PoCo Heritage Christmas Tree Festival
The PoCo Heritage Christmas Tree Festival runs its Christmas event and market at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre on November 28 and 29, 2026, with tree voting and a tree trail from November 28 to December 14, 2026. Trees are decorated by businesses and community groups. Tree set-up is November 20, and decoration is to be completed by November 27.
Light displays and tours
Brighten Up PoCo
Brighten Up PoCo is a contest for people decorating their homes and places with displays and holiday lights. It runs December 1 to 12, 2026. Submit photos of a decorated home for a chance to win gift cards to local businesses. This is a home-lights contest, not a display to visit.
Winter in the City groups the season around Leigh Square, with Christmas in the Square, the Tree Festival, and the Parade of Lights. Confirm the Square dates before you go, as City listings differ.
Tree lightings
Christmas in the Square tree lighting
The annual tree lighting ceremony takes place during Christmas in the Square at Leigh Square. No single confirmed time for the tree lighting was stated, so no lighting time is given here.
Santa photos and parades
Parade of Lights
The Parade of Lights takes place on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5 pm in downtown Port Coquitlam. It is free for spectators. The parade features illuminated City vehicles and community group entries, and ends with Santa Claus. After the parade, the Port Coquitlam Community Centre hosts activities including a public skate, festive treats, and holiday crafts. The parade route is not given here, as one source described the usual route but said exact 2026 details were to be confirmed. Check the City of Port Coquitlam Parade of Lights page for the confirmed route before you go.
Santa photos
Photos with Santa are offered during Christmas in the Square. No separate Santa photo hours were confirmed, so none are given here.
Shows and other events
CPKC Holiday Train
The CPKC Holiday Train stops in Port Coquitlam on Sunday, December 20, 2026. The City Holiday Train page gives 6:45 to 7:15 pm and the City Community Calendar gives 6:45 to 7:45 pm, so the end time is not settled. Pre-train activities run 4 to 6:30 pm at Port Coquitlam Community Centre, Mabbett Hall. The venue is Kingsway Avenue between Mary Hill Road and Wilson Avenue, by Port Coquitlam West Coast Express Station, 2125 Kingsway Avenue. Performers are Sam Roberts Band and Owen Riegling. Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring food or cash donations for the local food bank.
The later sections cover shows, Santa photos, and practical notes for getting around, so this is a good place to pause and plan the rest of an evening out.
Practical notes
Leigh Square and the Port Coquitlam Community Centre are the centre of both main events, so they are easy to pair in one visit. For the Parade of Lights, arrive early for a viewing spot, and check the city's road closure notice for December 5, as streets around the parade route close for the event.
Who wrote this
Fern Kellaway
Fern Kellaway grew up in Mary Hill, three streets from the rail corridor, and her grandfather worked the CPR yards for most of his life. She lives near Lions Park now and has walked the Traboulay loop weekly for twenty years, which is how she knows which businesses are still there.
