Photo via @tourismharrison / Instagram
In addition to having world-famous hot springs, Harrison Hot Springs is a stunning place to visit during the holiday season, as Harrison Lake becomes illuminated with a vibrant festival of lights.
Situated in the Harrison River Valley on the largest lake in southwestern B.C., this village is revered for its two mineral hot springs, Potash and Sulphur, which are 40 and 62 degrees.
The water is pumped from one of the springs and cooled to provide visitors with an indoor public mineral hot springs pool to be enjoyed at 38 degrees.
For many years, the local Sts’ailes First Nations have travelled by canoe to use its healing waters, calling the hot springs “Qwolts,” meaning boiling water.
The village itself is a popular visit year-round for beloved annual events like the Harrison Sunflower Festival and Agassiz Fall Fair & Corn Festival, to name a couple. Its quaint downtown is lined with specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants, offering visitors the perfect opportunity to stroll the lakeside promenade and dash into a few.
Visitors can also check out the Kilby Historic Site, a museum and recreation of rural life at the early 20th-century Harrison Mills community. As for its local arts and culture scene, you can visit Ruby Creek or Ranger Station Art Gallery, or embark on one of the Sts’ailes Cultural Tours.
From Nov. 22, 2025, to Jan. 11, 2026, the community’s annual Lights By The Lake Holiday Festival will illuminate the two-kilometre promenade along Harrison Lake with vibrant lights and Sasquatch-themed decor.
Custom displays will line the promenade, with Sasquatch enjoying a campfire, hiking, biking, paddling, skiing, fishing, camping, and windsurfing, making for the perfect photo opportunity with the family.
Starting at 5 p.m. on opening night (Nov. 22, 2025), visitors can snag a photo with Sasquatch Santa, enjoy holiday carols, watch a pet parade, and sip on free hot cocoa.
So mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate the start of the most vibrant, heartwarming season of the year.
How to get there: Drive two hours from Vancouver via the Trans – Canada Highway/BC-1 E.
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