Month: May 2024

Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden is worth seeing any time of the year, but especially during the Festival of Lights at Christmas time in December.

In 2023 the event ran from November 24th until January 7th, 2024. Exact dates for the 2024/2025 season are to be confirmed.

For tickets and full details about the event, see the official Festival of Lights website.

NOTE: The Festival of Lights was recently named one of the “World’s Most Spectacular Holiday Light Displays” by Condé Nast. If you go, especially if you see the light show over Livingstone Lake, you’ll understand why!

Where and When

The Festival of Lights takes place at VanDusen Botanical Garden which is located at 5151 Oak Street in Vancouver. Its main parking lot is just off West 37th Avenue. There is usually street parking along Oak and nearby side streets.

The event ran from November 24th in 2023 until January 7th in 2024. The garden is open every day for the Festival of Lights from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm, except for December 25th when it is closed on Christmas Day. After Christmas Day it’s open for the same hours, so from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm, every day including Boxing Day and New Year’s Day up until January 7th, 2024.

Festival of Lights Admission
Admission to the Festival of Lights typically costs between about $11.00 and $24.00 per person depending on your age.

To gauge pricing, below were the admission rates for the Christmas season in 2023/2024. Tickets can be purchased online. All prices exclude taxes and online fees. We expect the prices to be comparable during the event’s end-of-year run in 2024.

What to Expect, See and Do

In addition to the million spectacular lights, the Festival of Lights also features dancing light shows that last about eight minutes and take place every 20 minutes from the top of the hour. They are really good! Be sure to watch them at least once (or maybe twice from different angles). Also, don’t miss the illuminated Rose Garden, Japanese Maples and, of course, the various light tunnels for the perfect holiday photo.

The lights at VanDusen themselves are absolutely wonderful. They are displayed throughout the different gardens and around the various ponds. They are always spectacular! Also expect to hear holiday music and enjoy some food!

Disclaimer: Frogs Landscaping Inc is not the owner of, nor a stakeholder in, this project. We feature information like this in order to highlight notable landscape lighting projects around the city. For more information on the project, please check the respective websites.

Produced by the City of Coquitlam and presented by Coquitlam Centre, Lights at Lafarge is Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display.

Coquitlam’s Lights at Lafarge winter display will return in November 2024. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for updates throughout the season.
Coquitlam Centre, Presenting Partner

Situated in the heart of the Tri-Cities, Coquitlam Centre features over 910,000 square feet of retail on two spacious levels. Coquitlam Centre is the fifth largest shopping centre in British Columbia, offering over 200 retailers including Hudson’s Bay, Walmart, London Drugs, Sport Chek, T&T Supermarket, Best Buy, Golf Town, Apple, UNIQLO, lululemon athletica, Sephora, MAC, Aritzia, Plenty, Urban Barn and H&M all in one convenient location.

Disclaimer: Frogs Landscaping Inc is not the owner of, nor a stakeholder in, this project. We feature information like this in order to highlight notable landscape lighting projects around the city. For more information on the project, please check the respective websites.

Seasonal lighting refers to the practice of using decorative lights to enhance the festive ambiance of different seasons and occasions throughout the year. While holiday lighting, particularly during Christmas, is a well-known example of seasonal lighting, there are many other occasions where decorative lights play a significant role in creating a celebratory atmosphere. Here are some common examples of seasonal lighting used for various occasions:

1. Christmas: Christmas lights are perhaps the most popular form of seasonal lighting, with colorful and festive displays adorning homes, trees, buildings, and streets during the holiday season. LED lights, icicle lights, net lights, and other decorative lighting options are used to create dazzling displays that capture the spirit of Christmas.
2. Halloween: During Halloween, spooky and eerie lighting effects are often used to create a haunted ambiance. Orange and purple lights, as well as flickering LED candles, string lights, and spotlights, are used to illuminate haunted houses, pumpkin patches, and Halloween decorations.
3. Thanksgiving: Soft, warm lighting can be used to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere for Thanksgiving celebrations. LED candles, fairy lights, and decorative lanterns are popular choices for adding a touch of warmth and charm to Thanksgiving dinner tables and indoor and outdoor decorations.
4. Fourth of July: On Independence Day, patriotic red, white, and blue lighting is commonly used to celebrate the holiday. String lights, lighted flags, and fireworks-inspired LED decorations are used to adorn homes, gardens, and public spaces for Fourth of July festivities.
5. Valentine’s Day: Romantic and intimate lighting plays a key role in setting the mood for Valentine’s Day celebrations. Soft, pink, and red lights, heart-shaped string lights, and candles are used to create a romantic ambiance for Valentine’s Day dinners, parties, and romantic gestures.
6. Diwali: Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated in India and other South Asian countries, is marked by the use of colorful and vibrant lighting displays. Diyas (oil lamps), string lights, lanterns, and decorative candles are lit to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and to welcome prosperity and happiness.

Seasonal lighting is a versatile and creative way to enhance the ambiance of various seasons and occasions, adding a touch of magic and festivity to celebrations throughout the year. Whether it’s Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Valentine’s Day, Diwali, or any other special occasion, decorative lights play a significant role in creating memorable and enchanting moments for people to enjoy and celebrate.

Christmas LED lights are a popular and energy-efficient choice for decorating during the holiday season. LED lights have several advantages over traditional incandescent lights, making them a popular choice for Christmas decorations. Here are some key benefits of Christmas LED lights:

1. Energy Efficiency: LED lights are highly energy-efficient, consuming up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent lights. This can help reduce electricity costs and is better for the environment.
2. Longevity: LED lights have a longer lifespan compared to traditional lights. They can last up to 25 times longer, which means less frequent replacement and cost savings in the long run.
3. Safety: LED lights emit very little heat, reducing the risk of fire hazards. They also stay cool to the touch, making them safe to use around children and pets. LED lights are a safer option for indoor and outdoor decorations.
4. Durability: LED lights are more durable and less prone to breakage compared to traditional lights. They are made with solid-state components that are resistant to shock, vibration, and temperature changes, making them suitable for outdoor use.
5. Versatility: LED lights come in a wide variety of colors and styles, allowing for creative and custom lighting designs. They can be used to create different effects, such as twinkling, fading, or color-changing patterns, adding a unique touch to your Christmas decorations.
6. Environmentally Friendly: LED lights are free from toxic materials, such as mercury, and are recyclable. They have a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional lights, making them a more environmentally friendly choice for holiday decorations.

Overall, Christmas LED lights offer many advantages that make them a popular choice for holiday decorations. Their energy efficiency, longevity, safety features, durability, versatility, and environmental benefits make them a smart and festive option for creating a dazzling and eco-friendly holiday display.

A Christmas Lights Festival is a magical and festive event where communities come together to celebrate the holiday season with dazzling light displays, festive decorations, and joyful activities. Here are some key elements that you might find at a Christmas Lights Festival:

1. Light Displays: The centerpiece of a Christmas Lights Festival is, of course, the stunning light displays. These can include elaborate light sculptures, synchronized light shows set to music, sparkling decorations on trees and buildings, and more. Visitors are often amazed by the creativity and artistry of the light displays.
2. Interactive Activities: Christmas Lights Festivals often include interactive activities for visitors of all ages. This can include things like carriage rides through lighted trails, visits with Santa Claus in a beautifully decorated grotto, holiday-themed photo booths, craft workshops, and more. These activities add an extra layer of fun and excitement to the event.
3. Entertainment: Live entertainment is a common feature at Christmas Lights Festivals. This can include performances by local choirs, bands, dancers, or even professional entertainers. Music, dance, and other performances add to the festive atmosphere and help create lasting memories for attendees.
4. Food and Drink: No festival is complete without delicious food and drinks. Christmas Lights Festivals often feature food vendors selling holiday treats like hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts, gingerbread cookies, and more. Visitors can warm up with a cozy drink and enjoy tasty snacks while taking in the festive atmosphere.
5. Marketplace: Many Christmas Lights Festivals have a marketplace where vendors sell handmade crafts, gifts, ornaments, and other holiday items. This is a great place to find unique gifts for loved ones and support local artisans and businesses.
6. Themed Areas: Some Christmas Lights Festivals have themed areas or sections that transport visitors to different holiday scenes. This could include a winter wonderland area with snow-themed decorations, a magical forest with twinkling lights, or a North Pole village with Santa’s workshop and his merry elves.

Overall, a Christmas Lights Festival is a wonderful way to bring communities together, spread holiday cheer, and create lasting memories for all who attend. It’s a festive event that captures the magic and spirit of the holiday season through dazzling light displays and fun-filled activities.

Landscape lights can be a great addition to your outdoor Christmas decorations, adding a touch of elegance and highlighting key features of your landscaping. Here are some ideas for incorporating landscape lights into your holiday display:

1. Spotlights: Use spotlights to illuminate trees, bushes, or other focal points in your yard. You can angle the spotlights to create interesting shadows and effects, or use colored bulbs for a festive touch.
2. Pathway Lights: Line your walkway with pathway lights to guide visitors to your front door and create a welcoming entrance. Consider using lights in different colors or shapes to match your holiday theme.
3. Uplights: Uplights are a great way to highlight architectural features of your home, such as columns, arches, or windows. Use uplights with colored gels for a dramatic effect.
4. Silhouette Lights: Silhouette lights can create a stunning display by projecting holiday-themed images onto the exterior of your home or onto a blank wall in your yard. These can include images of Santa, reindeer, snowflakes, and more.
5. Floodlights: Floodlights can be used to bathe large areas of your yard in light, creating a bright and festive atmosphere. Consider using floodlights with color-changing bulbs for a dynamic effect.
6. String Lights on Trees: Wrap string lights around trees in your yard to create a dazzling display. You can use white lights for a classic look, or choose colored lights for a more whimsical feel.
7. Underwater Lights: If you have a pond or water feature in your yard, consider adding underwater lights to create a magical effect. You can use colored lights to coordinate with the rest of your holiday decorations.

Remember to plan your landscape lighting design carefully to ensure that it enhances your outdoor Christmas display without overpowering it. Consider using timers or smart lighting controls to automate your lights and create a seamless and energy-efficient setup. With the right combination of landscape lights, you can transform your outdoor space into a winter wonderland that will enchant your family and guests.

When it comes to decorating the exterior of your home for Christmas, there are countless options to choose from. Here are some ideas to help you create a festive and welcoming holiday display:

1. Hang lights and garlands: One of the most popular ways to decorate the exterior of your home for Christmas is with string lights and garlands. You can hang them along the roofline, around windows and doors, and on trees and bushes in your yard.
2. Add a wreath: A Christmas wreath is a classic holiday decoration that can be hung on your front door to welcome guests. You can choose a traditional green wreath with red ribbon and ornaments, or get creative with a unique design.
3. Install outdoor Christmas decorations: There are a variety of outdoor decorations available, such as inflatable characters, light-up reindeer, and nativity scenes. These can add a whimsical touch to your outdoor display.
4. Light up your walkway: Consider lining your driveway or walkway with luminaries or pathway lights to guide visitors to your front door. This can create a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests.
5. Don’t forget the mailbox and mailbox post: Decorate your mailbox and mailbox post with garland, lights, or a small wreath to continue the holiday spirit throughout your yard.
6. Incorporate natural elements: Consider adding pine cones, holly branches, or other natural elements to your outdoor decorations for a festive touch.
7. Hang a banner or sign: Personalize your outdoor display with a banner or sign that welcomes guests or shares a holiday message.

Remember to keep safety in mind when decorating the exterior of your home for Christmas. Make sure your lights are weatherproof and use outdoor-rated extension cords. It’s also a good idea to secure decorations to prevent them from blowing away in the wind. With a little creativity and effort, you can create a beautiful and festive Christmas exterior decoration that will delight your family and guests.

Hardscaping in landscaping refers to the design, installation, and use of non-living elements in outdoor spaces to enhance their functionality, aesthetics, and overall appeal. While landscaping typically focuses on plants, trees, and other living elements, hardscaping provides the structural foundation and additional features that complement the natural environment.

Here are some key components and features of hardscaping in landscaping:

1. Materials: Hardscaping materials can include a wide range of options such as stone, brick, concrete, wood, metal, and gravel. Each material offers different textures, colors, and durability, allowing for customization and creativity in design. Popular choices for hardscaping include flagstone pathways, brick paver patios, wooden decks, and metal garden structures.
2. Structural Elements: Hardscaping can involve the installation of various structural elements that define and organize outdoor spaces. This can include retaining walls, raised planters, pergolas, arbors, fences, gates, and columns. These elements provide functional benefits like delineating boundaries, creating privacy, and defining different areas within the landscape.
3. Pathways and Walkways: Hardscaping often includes the creation of pathways, walkways, and driveways that guide traffic flow and provide access to different areas of the garden or yard. Materials like pavers, stepping stones, gravel, or concrete can be used to construct these pathways, adding both visual interest and practicality to the landscape.
4. Water Features: Hardscaping can incorporate water features such as fountains, ponds, waterfalls, and streams to add movement, sound, and tranquility to outdoor spaces. These features can serve as focal points, enhance the ambiance of the landscape, and attract wildlife and beneficial insects.
5. Outdoor Living Spaces: Hardscaping plays a crucial role in creating outdoor living spaces that extend the functionality of the property beyond the confines of the house. This can include designing patios, decks, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, seating areas, and entertainment spaces that allow homeowners to relax, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors in comfort.
6. Lighting: Hardscaping can also incorporate lighting elements such as pathway lights, uplights, spotlights, string lights, and lanterns to illuminate the landscape and create ambiance during the evening hours. Properly placed lighting can enhance safety, highlight architectural features, and extend the usability of outdoor spaces after dark.
7. Maintenance: Hardscaping elements require regular maintenance to ensure their longevity and appearance. This may involve cleaning, sealing, repairing cracks, adjusting levels, and replacing worn-out materials as needed. Proper maintenance helps preserve the beauty and functionality of hardscaping features over time.

Overall, hardscaping is an essential component of landscaping that adds structure, style, and functionality to outdoor spaces. By combining living elements with non-living elements, hardscaping enhances the beauty and usability of landscapes, creating inviting and well-balanced environments for homeowners to enjoy.

Christmas lights are decorative lights typically used during the holiday season to adorn homes, buildings, trees, and other outdoor or indoor spaces. These lights come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and designs, making them a popular choice for adding festive cheer and sparkle to any setting.

Here are some key characteristics and features of Christmas lights:

1. Color: Christmas lights are available in a wide range of colors, including traditional colors like red, green, and white, as well as more modern options like blue, purple, and multicolor strands. Some lights even feature changing colors or patterns for added visual interest.
2. Size and Shape: Christmas lights come in different sizes and shapes, such as mini lights, C7 bulbs, C9 bulbs, icicle lights, net lights, and rope lights. Mini lights are small bulbs ideal for wrapping around trees or other decorations, while larger bulbs like C7 and C9 are often used for outlining roofs or windows.
3. LED vs. Incandescent: Christmas lights are available in both LED (Light Emitting Diode) and incandescent versions. LED lights are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and produce vibrant colors, while incandescent lights have a warm, traditional glow but consume more energy and have a shorter lifespan.
4. Indoor and Outdoor Use: Christmas lights are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, with outdoor lights designed to withstand weather elements like rain, snow, and wind. Indoor lights are often lighter and may have more delicate decorations.
5. Lighting Effects: Some Christmas lights come with various lighting effects, such as twinkle, fade, chase, and combination patterns. These effects can add movement and dynamic visual appeal to your display.
6. Installation: Christmas lights can be strung along rooftops, wrapped around trees and bushes, hung on fences or balconies, or used to decorate mantels, windows, and doorways. Special clips, hooks, or stakes are often used to secure the lights in place and create a polished look.
7. Power Source: Christmas lights can be powered by standard electrical outlets, battery packs, or solar panels. Choose the type of power source that best suits the location and availability of electricity for your display.
8. Timer and Remote Control: Some Christmas lights come with built-in timers or remote controls that allow you to set automated schedules for turning the lights on and off. This feature can save energy and simplify the management of your lighting display.

Overall, Christmas lights are a versatile and festive decoration that can brighten up any space and create a magical atmosphere during the holiday season. Whether used indoors or outdoors, these lights add a touch of warmth and joy to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.