PARKS and gardens throughout Vancouver are once again being transformed with family-oriented holiday events and displays.

Holiday lights have been installed in three parks, and will be turned on daily from December 1 to January 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m., and from 3:30 p.m. to midnight:

Lost Lagoon Fountain in Stanley Park, easily visible from the Georgia Street causeway, is strung with 6,000 multi-coloured SLED lights (seasonal light emitting diodes).

Elm Grove at English Bay (Beach Avenue at Bidwell Street) features over 12,000 energy efficient SLED lights. The lights will be left on for 24 hours on December 1 to mark World AIDS Day.

Giant sequoia tree in George Wainborn Park (on False Creek at the foot of Richards Street) is lit with 5,000 white lights.

Bright Nights at Stanley Park returns for its 16th year. The miniature train becomes a wintry wonderland with the help of three million lights, animated displays, and holiday sounds. Entrance to the Bright Nights Train Plaza is by donation (you don’t need to purchase train tickets to see the holiday lights). This popular wheelchair accessible event is presented in partnership with the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund with proceeds helping this charity.

Bright Nights runs daily from December 5 to January 5, but is closed December 25. For hours, pricing and other details, visit the Bright Nights webpage.

VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights returns for its 29th year. The garden becomes a magical wonderland with 1.4 million twinkling lights and activities such as Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake, photos with Santa, performances by the Scandinavian Christmas gnomes, the candy cane express model train, festive food and community choirs.

Festival of Lights, most of which is wheelchair accessible, runs daily from between December 11 and January 4, but is closed December 25. For hours, pricing and other details, visit the Festival of Lights webpage.