Experience the best of Surrey during the holidays with our event guide.
Kick off your holiday season with a visit to the Vancouver Christmas Market, where you can enjoy festive food, unique gifts, and charming holiday decor. Explore the mesmerizing displays and light installations at Bright Nights at Stanley Park, a must-see illuminated wonderland. And the Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring breathtaking views and holiday ambiance. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Surrey
See these and even more events listed below!Surrey Other Holiday Activities
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community gathering to light Surrey's official Christmas tree
Description:
Surrey's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony unites the community in a joyous celebration of the season's start. The event centers around the illumination of a majestic evergreen, carefully selected to represent the city's natural beauty. Local choirs perform traditional carols, their voices rising into the crisp winter air. This ceremony, a longstanding Surrey tradition, reflects the city's commitment to fostering community spirit during the holidays.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nearby Events
Vancouver Christmas Market (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
German-inspired Christmas market with traditional European foods and crafts
Description:
Vancouver's Jack Poole Plaza transforms into a slice of old-world Europe during the Vancouver Christmas Market. Visitors can savor authentic German bratwurst while browsing handcrafted ornaments and gifts. The market's centerpiece, a towering Christmas pyramid, pays homage to the centuries-old tradition from Germany's Ore Mountains. You'll find yourself immersed in the cheerful atmosphere as carol singers fill the air with seasonal melodies.
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Bright Nights at Stanley Park (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Train ride through illuminated forest displays
Description:
Stanley Park's miniature train chugs through a winter spectacle during Bright Nights. The 3-kilometer track winds past dazzling light displays that bring fairy tales to life. This beloved tradition began in 1997 and has grown into Vancouver's most anticipated holiday attraction. Visitors can warm up with hot cocoa while admiring the park's towering evergreens draped in twinkling lights.
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Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Illuminated suspension bridge and treetop walk
Description:
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park glows with thousands of lights during Canyon Lights. The event's showstopper is the 140-meter suspension bridge, transformed into a luminous ribbon across the canyon. Treetops Adventure takes visitors on an illuminated journey through the coastal rainforest canopy. This unique experience combines British Columbia's natural beauty with cutting-edge light technology, creating a breathtaking nocturnal landscape.
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Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
VanDusen Festival of Lights (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Botanical garden transformed with over one million lights
Description:
VanDusen Botanical Garden bursts into a kaleidoscope of color during the Festival of Lights. Over one million bulbs illuminate the garden's diverse plant collections, creating a stunning contrast against the winter night. Visitors can stroll through themed areas, each showcasing a different aspect of the garden's beauty. The event's centerpiece, a shimmering lake reflection, pays homage to Vancouver's coastal setting.
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Aurora Winter Festival (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Combination of light displays, ice skating, and winter activities
Description:
Aurora Winter Festival brings the North Pole to Vancouver with its diverse array of winter activities. Visitors can glide across a frozen pond, explore a mystical light tunnel, or tube down thrilling ice slides. The festival's light gardens draw inspiration from Arctic phenomena, recreating the aurora borealis in vibrant colors. This relatively new event, launched in 2018, has quickly become a staple of Vancouver's winter calendar.
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Lights at Lafarge Winter Lights Display (Coquitlam)
What to Expect:
Free light display around a scenic lake
Description:
Lights at Lafarge transforms Coquitlam's Town Centre Park into a luminous wonderland. The event's centerpiece, Lafarge Lake, becomes a mirror for thousands of twinkling lights, creating a mesmerizing double display. Visitors can follow a 1.2-kilometer trail around the lake, encountering themed zones that showcase local artists' creativity. This free event embodies Coquitlam's commitment to accessible public art and community celebration.
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Lights at Lafarge Winter Lights Display
Christmas at FlyOver Canada (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Virtual flight ride with holiday theme
Description:
FlyOver Canada's Christmas edition elevates the traditional holiday experience to new heights. Participants soar over Canada's winter landscapes in a multi-sensory simulation, complete with wind, mist, and scents. The ride culminates in a journey to the North Pole, offering a unique perspective on Santa's workshop. This high-tech attraction blends cutting-edge flight simulation technology with cherished holiday narratives.
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Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum (Burnaby)
What to Expect:
Historical reenactment of early 20th century Christmas
Description:
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum transports visitors to a 1920s holiday celebration. The open-air museum comes alive with costumed interpreters, demonstrating traditional crafts and customs. Visitors can ride an authentically restored carousel from the era, its cheerful music echoing through the village. This immersive experience offers a glimpse into British Columbia's past, highlighting how holiday traditions have evolved over the century.
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Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
Festival of Trees (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Fundraising event featuring creatively decorated Christmas trees
Description:
The Festival of Trees transforms the Vancouver Convention Centre into a forest of uniquely adorned evergreens. Local businesses and organizations showcase their creativity, decorating trees to raise funds for BC Children's Hospital. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, contributing to this worthy cause. The event, which began in 1991, has become a cherished holiday tradition that embodies Vancouver's spirit of community and philanthropy.
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Gingerbread Lane (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Exhibition of elaborate gingerbread houses
Description:
Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver showcases the culinary artistry of local bakers and confectioners. Intricate gingerbread houses, some standing over six feet tall, fill the hotel's lobby with the sweet aroma of spices. Visitors can marvel at the detailed miniature worlds, each telling a unique story through edible architecture. This annual event, running for over 30 years, highlights Vancouver's vibrant culinary scene and holiday creativity.
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Zoominescence: A Festival of Light (Edmonton)
What to Expect:
Zoo-based light festival with conservation focus
Description:
Zoominescence illuminates the Edmonton Valley Zoo with a conservation-minded light festival. Artistic installations crafted from energy-efficient LEDs showcase endangered species and habitats. Visitors can embark on a glowing nature walk, learning about wildlife preservation through interactive displays. This event, unique to Edmonton, blends environmental education with holiday cheer, reflecting the zoo's commitment to conservation awareness.
Website:
Zoominescence: A Festival of Light
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Mountain-top winter activities with panoramic city views
Description:
Peak of Christmas elevates holiday celebrations to Grouse Mountain's summit. Visitors ascend via gondola to a winter playground offering panoramic views of Vancouver's twinkling cityscape. The event features outdoor ice skating, reindeer encounters, and snowshoe trails through frosted forests. This alpine experience harnesses Grouse Mountain's unique position as Vancouver's natural winter playground, just minutes from the city center.
Website:
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
Robson Square Ice Rink (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Free outdoor ice skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver
Description:
Robson Square Ice Rink transforms Vancouver's civic center into a bustling winter gathering place. Skaters glide beneath a unique domed covering, protected from the elements while still enjoying the open air. The rink's central location makes it a hub of holiday activity, surrounded by twinkling lights and festive decorations. This beloved tradition, revived for the 2010 Winter Olympics, continues to bring winter joy to the heart of the city.
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Santa Claus Parade (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Nighttime parade with illuminated floats
Description:
Vancouver's Santa Claus Parade lights up the downtown core with a procession of illuminated floats and performers. The parade route winds through the city's main thoroughfares, filling the streets with the sounds of marching bands and cheering spectators. Visitors can watch as elaborate floats, each a moving light display, pass by in a river of color. This annual event, dating back to 2004, has become Vancouver's largest parade, drawing crowds from across the region.
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Christmas Glow (Langley)
What to Expect:
Indoor light festival with international themed light gardens
Description:
Christmas Glow in Langley offers a globe-trotting light adventure under one roof. Visitors journey through illuminated gardens representing different countries, each showcasing unique cultural traditions. The event features towering light sculptures, interactive displays, and a glowing train ride. Launched in 2017, Christmas Glow has rapidly expanded, reflecting the Lower Mainland's diverse community and appetite for innovative holiday experiences.
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The Vancouver Trolley Company's Karaoke Christmas Lights Tour (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Sing-along trolley tour of Vancouver's best light displays
Description:
The Vancouver Trolley Company's Karaoke Christmas Lights Tour combines sightseeing with festive sing-alongs. Passengers board a vintage-style trolley, embarking on a journey through the city's most spectacular light displays. As the trolley rolls past illuminated neighborhoods, visitors belt out holiday classics, their voices amplified through the streets. This unique tour, blending Vancouver's historic trolleys with modern karaoke technology, offers a lively twist on traditional light viewing.
Website:
The Vancouver Trolley Company's Karaoke Christmas Lights Tour
The Nutcracker by Goh Ballet (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Local ballet company's interpretation of the classic Nutcracker
Description:
Goh Ballet's production of The Nutcracker brings world-class dance to Vancouver's holiday season. The performance features intricate costumes, elaborate sets, and a cast that includes international guest artists alongside local talent. Visitors can watch as the familiar story unfolds through graceful movements and Tchaikovsky's iconic score. This annual production, launched in 2009, has become a cornerstone of Vancouver's cultural calendar, showcasing the city's thriving arts scene.
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Christmas in Williams Park (Langley)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display in a forested park setting
Description:
Christmas in Williams Park offers a serene light-viewing experience through Langley's lush woodland. Visitors drive along a winding road, surrounded by illuminated displays that complement the natural beauty of the forest. The event's unique charm lies in its integration with nature, as twinkling lights reflect off the park's pond and illuminate towering evergreens. This community-driven display, running for over two decades, embodies the spirit of local volunteerism and holiday cheer.
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St. Paul's Hospital Lights of Hope (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Massive light display on hospital facade for charitable cause
Description:
St. Paul's Hospital Lights of Hope transforms the medical center's exterior into a beacon of community spirit. Over 100,000 lights adorn the hospital's facade, creating intricate designs and messages of hope. Visitors can admire the display from Burrard Street, where the illuminated stars seem to dance against the night sky. This fundraising initiative, launched in 1998, has become a symbol of Vancouver's generosity, raising millions for urgent hospital needs.
Website:
St. Paul's Hospital Lights of Hope
Christmas Craft Fair at the Scandinavian Community Centre (Burnaby)
What to Expect:
Nordic-themed craft fair showcasing Scandinavian holiday traditions
Description:
The Christmas Craft Fair at the Scandinavian Community Centre brings Nordic holiday charm to Burnaby. Visitors can browse handcrafted gifts, from traditional sweaters to modern Scandinavian designs. The air fills with the aroma of freshly baked pepparkakor, enticing guests to sample authentic treats. This event, hosted by Vancouver's vibrant Scandinavian community, offers a unique glimpse into the holiday traditions of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
Website:
Christmas Craft Fair at the Scandinavian Community Centre
CandyTown (Vancouver)
What to Expect:
Outdoor Christmas festival with a candy theme
Description:
CandyTown transforms Vancouver's Yaletown into a sweet-themed holiday street festival. Visitors stroll past candy-cane lamp posts and larger-than-life treat sculptures, immersing themselves in a confectioner's dream. The event features ice carving demonstrations, street performances, and artisanal candy makers showcasing their craft. Launched in 2012, CandyTown has quickly become a beloved addition to Vancouver's holiday calendar, celebrating the neighborhood's vibrant character and community spirit.
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Whistler Holiday Experience (Whistler)
What to Expect:
Indoor family activity center in a world-renowned ski resort
Description:
Whistler Holiday Experience brings indoor winter fun to the heart of North America's largest ski resort. Visitors can enjoy mini golf, table games, and bouncy castles, all within a cozy alpine setting. The event transforms Whistler's conference centre into a family playground, offering a break from outdoor activities. This free attraction, running since 2008, reflects Whistler's commitment to providing diverse experiences for visitors beyond its famous slopes.
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Polar Express Train Ride (Squamish)
What to Expect:
Immersive train ride based on the popular children's book
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride in Squamish brings a beloved holiday story to life on the rails. Passengers board vintage carriages, embarking on a journey to the "North Pole" along scenic mountain routes. Costumed actors recreate scenes from the book, serving hot chocolate and leading carols as the train chugs through the winter landscape. This interactive experience, launched in 2014, combines British Columbia's railway heritage with timeless holiday storytelling.