Top events this weekend in Richmond, November 14 to 15

Richmond has a range of public events this Saturday and Sunday, from the official opening of Metro Vancouver's tallest Christmas tree to live theatre, library programs and free drop-in activities across the city.

Saturday, November 14

Holiday tree lighting ceremony at CF Richmond Centre

CF Richmond Centre opens its 2026 holiday season with a free lighting ceremony at its outdoor plaza on Saturday at 6:00 PM. The tree stands 78 feet tall, making it the tallest Christmas tree in Metro Vancouver, according to the mall's organizer, Cadillac Fairview.

The tree uses programmable LED lights that synchronize with music during the shows. After the opening ceremony, daily light shows run at 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM every day through January 3, 2027. Each show runs at the top of every two hours in that window, so visitors can time their arrival. The mall is at 6551 No. 3 Road, Richmond, with the outdoor plaza facing the street. Parking at the centre is free. The organizer's event page at CF Richmond Centre has full details.

Alongside the tree displays, Cadillac Fairview is running Santa visits at the mall from November 13 to December 23. The organizer notes that Santa ticket availability for this weekend is sold out. Sensitive Santa visits, designed for children who prefer a quieter experience, begin November 29.

Songs for a New World at Gateway Theatre

Gateway Theatre performs Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World on Saturday with a matinee at 1:30 PM and an evening show at 7:30 PM. The production is at Minoru Chapel, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond, V7C 3V4.

The show is a song cycle written in 1995 exploring different moments in human life, performed in a concert setting rather than as a traditional staged story. Brown is the composer and lyricist, and the work has no single plot: each song stands on its own as one person's story at a turning point. The production runs 90 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.

Tickets are $40 general admission. Same-day student rush and arts worker rush tickets are $25 each, available only at the box office on the day of the performance. Groups of 10 or more can call the box office for group pricing. Buy tickets online at gatewaytheatre.com or call 604-270-1812. The Minoru Chapel is a short walk from Richmond-Brighouse station on the Canada Line.

Health Talk at Brighouse Library

A naturopathic doctor speaks on the connection between heart health and brain health at the Brighouse branch of the Richmond Public Library, 7700 Minoru Gate, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. The library describes the talk as covering how cardiovascular health relates to brain health and dementia prevention. The talk is free. Registration is required at yourlibrary.ca, and two spots remained open as of this writing.

Family programs at the library

Family Storytime (drop-in, free) runs at the Brighouse, Cambie and Ironwood branches from 10:30 to 11:00 AM, with songs, stories and rhymes for preschoolers and families. DUPLO Free Play follows at the same three branches from 11:00 to 11:30 AM, with open building time for children aged 2 to 5.

Sunday, November 15

Family programs at the library

Family Storytime (drop-in, free) runs at the Steveston and Ironwood branches from 10:30 to 11:00 AM. Babytime, a free drop-in for infants up to 18 months, runs at the Cambie branch at the same time, with rhymes, action songs and lullabies. DUPLO Free Play (ages 2 to 5) also runs Sunday at Steveston and Ironwood from 11:00 to 11:30 AM.

Chess for Fun at Brighouse Library

Chess for Fun is a free, drop-in event for all ages and skill levels at the Brighouse branch from 2:00 to 4:30 PM on Sunday. Equipment is provided, and no registration is needed.

The Brighouse branch is at 7700 Minoru Gate, within walking distance of Richmond-Brighouse station. All library branches in Richmond are open to cardholders and non-cardholders for drop-in programs; bring a library card to borrow materials while you are there.

Getting around this weekend

No road closures or transit disruptions for Richmond were published by the City of Richmond or TransLink at the time this guide was written. The Canada Line connects Richmond-Brighouse station to downtown Vancouver and YVR Airport, running every few minutes on weekends. CF Richmond Centre, Gateway Theatre and Brighouse Library are all within a short walk of Brighouse station on No. 3 Road. For bus routes serving the Steveston, Cambie and Ironwood areas of Richmond, check the full schedule at translink.ca before you leave.

Before you go

Confirm times and location details on the organizer's own page on the day you go, as schedules can change. For Richmond Public Library events, the full listing for the weekend is at yourlibrary.ca, where you can also register for programs that require a spot.