Fall/Winter semesters are brutal. With multiple rigorous courses, extracurriculars, and maybe a job, students can go through burnout and their social lives may take a hit. I know mine does. The sun setting around 4:30pm does not help either. But taking much deserved breaks with friends and exploring new experiences might help alleviate the burnout a little. This is why I have gone ahead and compiled some fun activities/events you can do in the fall semester with your friends to help battle seasonal depression and keep your social life intact! These are all activities I have done in the past which have certainly helped me manage stress. I have also listed the timings and prices of the activities, and all should be accessible by transit, so you can see which fits you the best.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
First on the list is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park as it lights up in the winter. This event is called the ‘Canyon Lights’, and usually goes on from November to January. The ticket is on the pricey side, with students getting a day ticket for around $60. But the walk through the park feels magical, and the experience is worth it. They also have special light events for Valentine’s Day called ‘Love Lights’, which are equally beautiful for the month of February, and also have something special for Halloween!
Photo by @capilanosuspensionbridge on Instagram
Christmas Market
Next is the amazing Christmas Market that usually takes place downtown in the month of December. It is a German-inspired market with tons of cute hand-made artisan crafts and food stalls. The kind of crafts you might get here are unique, as the artisans travel from around to come and set up their stalls. The food and sweets are also delicious, and the centre of the market has an old-time toy-like clock tower and a huge Christmas tree which you can enter and light up yourself! It truly is a wonderful experience for the festive season. The tickets are usually between $20-$30.
Photo by CLC Peer Assistant Suha
PNE Fright Nights
PNE Fright Nights! It’s an experience that is a little on the pricey side, but really worth it! I love PNE as I’m an amusement park enthusiast. PNE does run for most of the year, but fright nights are only open on specific nights in October. It is a fun way to celebrate Halloween as there are food trucks, carnival games, thrilling rides, and of course my favourite, haunted houses! The park is in East Vancouver and the pricing for the entry ticket is around $50-$60.
Photo by @pne_playland on Instagram
Whistler
Whistler is a nice place to wind down from the semester’s stress during reading breaks. During the winter months, this small, beautiful city transforms into a magical place with shops, wholesome vibes, and if you’re brave enough: skiing or snowboarding! You can plan a day trip or a stay over. However, note that during winter, Whistler does get quite busy and prices might go up for hotels/Airbnbs. You could take a bus from downtown (roundtrip) for around $44!
Photo by @gowhistler on Instagram
Miscellaneous Activities You Can Do Anytime!
If you like skiing or gondolas and epic views, you can visit Cypress or Grouse mountains. (I haven’t skied there but I loved the gondolas!)
You could go to the Butchart Gardens in Victoria for a day, as they light up and have the 12 days of Christmas decorations in the winter. (Their Chinatown is amazing!)
And you can also check out the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival where special vendors will sell delicious hot chocolate around the city!
The Abbotsford Pumpkin patch during Halloween is another fun experience, although I haven’t gotten the chance to go there myself yet.
Have you tried any of these activities or have any suggestions for other events in the fall/winter? Please let us know in the comments! I’m always down to try different experiences. 🙂
References
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. (n.d.). Tickets and hours. https://www.capbridge.com/tickets-and-hours/ (Accessed July 25, 2025)
Capilano Suspension Bridge. (n.d.). [Instagram photo]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2lV_ivuC4/ (Accessed July 25, 2025)
Vancouver Christmas Market. (n.d.). Home. https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/ (Accessed July 25, 2025)
PNE Fright Nights. (n.d.). Buy tickets. https://frightnights.ca/buy-tickets/ (Accessed July 22, 2025)
PNE Playland. (n.d.). [Instagram photo]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/pne_playland/ (Accessed July 25, 2025)
Epic Rides. (n.d.). Whistler bus service. https://epicrides.ca/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=730200455&gbraid=0AAAAADOP360silDZukbFxB4y_c3H8l2OA&gclid=CjwKCAjw1ozEBhAdEiwAn9qbzROhddtSU8S8kaWUzfIvbbmChTwzyR_hg7jvRy1eMPGa_5UVpyXfoxoC-7AQAvD_BwE (Accessed July 25, 2025)
Go Whistler. (n.d.). [Instagram photo]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DFD_giHTS3x/?img_index=1 (Accessed July 25, 2025)
The Butchart Gardens. (n.d.). Hours & rates. https://butchartgardens.com/hours-rates/ (Accessed July 25, 2025)
Hot Chocolate Festival. (n.d.). Home. https://hotchocolatefest.com/ (Accessed July 25, 2025)
