Richmond sits on islands at the mouth of the Fraser River, and its old fishing village of Steveston still feels like a place built around boats, canneries and long walks by the water. Add a lively arts centre, an Olympic museum and a theatre with a holiday musical, and you have a city where a date can move easily from history to sunsets to show tunes. These Richmond, BC date ideas cover the weeks from mid November through the holidays, using what local venues have posted for 2026.
Steveston After Dark
Winter in the Village: From November 19 to December 31, Steveston Village dresses up for the season with holiday displays, festive murals that make good photo backdrops and a lively waterfront to wander along. Part of the program is Steveston Sips, so pick a cafe, order something warm to hold and stroll the boardwalk together. The Winter Tram and Heritage Holidays at the Shipyards round out the celebration and give you a reason to come back more than once.
Steveston Museum and Post Office: This small heritage building at 3811 Moncton Street is free to visit and opens Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. On Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, December 12, its Songs in the Snow evenings fill the park with lights, music and hot chocolate from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., free or by donation. Until December 9 you can also leave a letter for Santa, which is a sweet excuse to write each other a note while you are at it.
Canneries, Boardwalks and Boats
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site: At 12138 Fourth Avenue, this towering wooden cannery shows how salmon and herring once powered the town. Follow the restored canning line, step into the herring reduction plant, and spend time with The Water We Call Home, an exhibit shaped by Rosemary Georgeson. The site is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Between November 21 and December 31, festive photo vignettes let you pose for a holiday picture, and movie matinees play in the Boiler House Theatre until December 21.
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site: A fifteen minute walk east of the village brings you to 5180 Westwater Drive, an eight acre heritage park where old shipyard buildings line a wooden boardwalk over the river. The grounds open from dawn to dusk, and the buildings welcome visitors free of charge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through December 31. It is a quiet, atmospheric spot, especially when the light drops low over the water in the late afternoon.
Sunsets on the Salish Sea
Garry Point Park: Head to 12011 7th Avenue at the western tip of Steveston for wide views across the Salish Sea toward Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The City calls it one of the best places in Richmond to watch the sun go down. Walk through the Japanese style Kuno Garden, pause at the Fisherman's Memorial Needle, and find a beached log to sit on with a thermos. The currents here are strong, so keep to the shore and leave swimming for another place.
Art, Sport and Show Tunes
Richmond Art Gallery: Inside the Richmond Cultural Centre at 7700 Minoru Gate, a short walk from Richmond-Brighouse station, the gallery opens weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. On November 21, artist Lam Tung Pang talks about process, place and practice at an Artist Salon. On December 5, a blind-led tour in English or Mandarin invites you to experience the art in a completely new way, which makes for a conversation you will remember.
The Richmond Olympic Experience: Tucked inside the Richmond Olympic Oval at 6111 River Road, ROX lets you test yourselves on sport simulators and swap stories about your favourite Games moments. It opens Thursday through Sunday, with Friday hours ending at 3:30 p.m. Entry is free on the first Thursday of each month from 2 to 5 p.m., and bus 414 runs there from Brighouse station.
Gateway Theatre: Gateway's holiday musical is 42nd Street, running on the MainStage from December 10, 2026 to January 2, 2027. It follows Peggy Sawyer from the chorus line to the spotlight, with plenty of tap dancing and songs like "Lullaby of Broadway". The December 10 preview at 7:30 p.m. is pay what you will, and opening night follows on December 11.
Handmade Gifts in Steveston
Steveston Christmas Craft Fair: On Saturday, November 28, more than a hundred local makers fill the Net Shed at the Steveston Community Centre, 4111 Moncton Street, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation, and there are no bank machines on site, so bring some cash for the vendors. Give yourselves a small budget to buy each other one handmade surprise, then compare finds over lunch in the village.
Sample Date Itineraries
1. Steveston Saturday: Morning at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery → lunch in the village → the craft fair on November 28 or the Shipyards boardwalk → sunset at Garry Point Park.
2. Songs in the Snow: A late afternoon walk around Winter in the Village → Songs in the Snow at the Steveston Museum on December 5 or 12 → a warm drink by the water.
3. City centre evening: An afternoon at ROX → the Richmond Art Gallery before closing → 42nd Street at Gateway Theatre.
Pro Tips for Memorable Dates
Britannia Shipyards buildings open only Friday to Sunday, so plan a heritage walk for the weekend.
ROX is closed Monday to Wednesday, while the cannery is open daily.
Check the sunset time before heading to Garry Point, since it comes early in December.
Parking near the craft fair is limited, so walk over from the village if you can.
The pay what you will preview of 42nd Street is a budget friendly way to see a big musical.
Most city sites close on statutory holidays, so double check hours over Christmas.
Richmond rewards couples who slow down and follow the water. Pair a heritage walk with a sunset or a show, and the season will feel bright.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Photo credits: Steveston Harbour by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Gulf of Georgia Cannery by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Britannia Shipyards by Jeff Hitchcock, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.