Festive family fun comes to the Fraser Valley and this list of holiday activities in Abbotsford is sure to get you in the spirit of the season.

5 Festive Holiday Activities in Abbotsford

West Coast Christmas Show and Artisan Market
Where: Tradex (1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford)
When: November 15 to 17, 2019
Details: The largest Christmas Show in the Lower Mainland with over 170 artisans and 300 participants. A unique shopping experience awaits you at the West Coast Christmas Show & Artisan Market. You will discover new gift ideas, original art, crafts, woodwork, ceramics, specialty foods, home decor, clothing, furniture, floral designs, jewellery, candles, soaps, toys, and much more. During the past eleven years the show has been visited by over 175,000 visitors, shopping from over 2,800 vendors. 

Tree Lighting and Holiday Show at Highstreet Shopping Center
Where: Highstreet Shopping Center (3122 Mount Lehman Rd, Abbotsford)
When: Shows every Saturday from November 16th to December 14th from 5:00pm to 5:30pm
Details: Check out Highstreet’s festive Tree Lighting and Holiday Shows this season. Saturday, November 16, 2019 is the lighting of a 65-foot Christmas tree-one of the tallest in Canada. It’s also the arrival of Santa Clause, Rudolf, Frosty, and ‘Spandy Andy’ the dancing elf, a 40-piece marching band, a team of festive dancers, live music, and a magical snowfall.

Christmas Glow Abbotsford
Where: Tradex (1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford)
When: December 5, 2019 to January 4, 2020
Details: Experience a magical family-friendly indoor wonderland as you help Santa and his elves find his reindeer and discover new ways to deliver presents using hot air balloons, planes, trains, motorcycles and more. Enjoy interactive light gardens, illuminated structures, delicious food, festive drinks and daily live entertainment all under the twinkle of a million lights at Christmas Glow Abbotsford.

Downtown Abbotsford Christmas Jubilee
Where: Downtown Abbostford, Essendene and Montrose Avenue
When: Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Details: Celebrate the holidays at the Downtown Abbotsford Christmas Jubilee. Food trucks, live music, an ice rink, cookie decorating, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, seasonal shopping and more! Tree lighting at 6:00pm, live ice sculpting at 7:00pm and fireworks at 8:45pm.

Maan Farms Christmas Market
Where: Maan Farms, 790 McKenzie Rd, Abbotsford
When: November 16-17, and November 23-24, 2019
Details: Check out the Maan Farms Christmas Market for holiday activities and shopping! Local vendors, festive activities, cooking demo from Mama Mann, a gift wrapping station, mulled wine and visit from the Grinch will be available.

Looking for more? Follow Tourism Abbotsford on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news and events in the region.

The City of Port Moody invites residents and visitors to the 3rd annual Holiday Cheer at the Pier celebration on Saturday, November 30, 2019.

Holiday Cheer at the Pier

When: Saturday, November 30, 2019 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Where: Rocky Point Pier and Boat Launch (2800 block of Murray Street)
Admission: Free!

Join your friends and neighbours at the gazebo by the pier for hot chocolate and a sugar cookie. Listen to carol singers, ride the Candy Cane mini train, and have your photo taken with Santa or Frosty the Snowman.

Port Moody Fire Rescue will be at Holiday Cheer at the Pier collecting new, unwrapped toys for their 2019 Toy Drive. Please consider making a donation, as all toys collected will go to SHARE Family and Community Services to help make the holidays a little brighter for families in need.

Port Moody is home to over 34,000 residents. The vibrant waterfront city values its natural environment and heritage character, embraces sustainability and is committed to community engagement. Founded in 1913, Port Moody’s historical ties to railway and lumber industries have given way to arts and service-based businesses. With over one-third of its land mass dedicated as parkland, Port Moody is a desirable place to live in BC’s Lower Mainland.

Stop by the Port Moody Christmas Craft Fair earlier in the day for more holiday fun and follow City of Port Moody on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for their latest event info.

It’s time for the Refresh Winter Market, which will take over the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish next weekend. Shop handmade, vintage and local goods from 100 artists, makers and small shops plus food, music and more.

Refresh Winter Market in Squamish

• When: Friday, November 15, 2019 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm and Saturday, November 16, 2019 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
• Where: West Coast Railway Heritage Park (39645 Government Rd, Squamish)
• Tickets: Admission is $5 at the door, $3 online before November 14th. The first 50 guests on both days will receive a swag bag filled with small gifts from market vendors.

Tin Type Trike will also be back on both Friday and Saturday making tin type portraits on a walk-in basis. These are truly stunning, come and watch how it works and get your portrait.

Market Preview

You can purchase a Market Preview ticket ($30) for Friday, November 15th from 3:00pm to 4:00pm that includes unlimited 2-day admission, complimentary cocktail and gift, and the opportunity to shop the market before doors open to the public.

Follow Refresh Market on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more information.

Giveaway

I have pair of Market Preview tickets to give away for a lucky winner and their guest to enjoy the opportunity to shop before the market opens on Friday (along with the cocktail and gift). Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. The winner must be able to pick up the prize at the market. UPDATE the winner is: LindaM

Beginning November 22nd, Aurora Winter Festival will be four times larger than the previous year and will feature expanded activities and programming in the Mystical Worlds experience, an increased ice skating surface, a longer tube park and double the number of rides and games.

Escape to a hidden village with a beautiful skating rink, a tube park, massive light displays, a Christmas Market, amusement rides, food gardens, magical characters, and plenty of other exciting activities. Weave your way through the Polar Passage, Luminous Gardens, Whimsical Forest, and Land of Giants. Keep your eyes open for Yin the Yeti and Thyra the Ice Queen!

Aurora Winter Festival

When: November 22nd, 2019 to January 5th, 2020
Where: Hastings Park, 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver
Tickets: On sale online now

Guests will be able to visit the Mystical Worlds which feature giant sculptures, animated sets, brilliant light displays, and a number of fun characters. The festival also features a light tunnel showcasing the Aurora Borealis, a story-time theatre with Santa, a giant tube park, ice skating on the frozen pond, six amusement rides, games, an entertainment tent with live music, a variety of food trucks, and a market with 40 holiday-inspired vendors, among other attractions.

For more information follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

All board! This season the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (“VSO”) presents the world premiere of The Polar Express in Concert at the Orpheum on November 19th.

VSO Presents The Polar Express in Concert

Where: VSO Digital Concert Hall (Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe, Vancouver)
When: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7:00pm
Tickets: Available online now

This once-in-a-lifetime world premiere concert event will bring the Oscar® nominated holiday classic to Orpheum Theatre, and will feature The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and choir performing every note from Alan Silvestri’s masterful score (with original songs co-written by Silvestri and Glen Ballard) while the entire film is projected on a 40-foot HD screen. Festive and fun pre-show activities will include carolers, a selfie photo wall, coloring tables for kids, an exclusive and immersive way to buy merchandise, and even Santa Claus!

In The Polar Express in Concert, experience the musical magic of Christmas Eve through Alan Silvestri’s unforgettable score and be immersed as The Polar Express adventures up and down mountains, slip-slides over ice fields, and teeters across mile-high bridges. Embark on this musical journey to the North Pole while watching the iconic film about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas. The wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Pre-Show with the Composer

Alan Silvestri (Avengers, Forrest Gump, Back to the Future 1-3, Predator) – the film’s composer and two-time Academy Award® and Golden Globe® Award nominee for an exclusive pre-show discussion about the score and his career. Moderated by conductor Justin Freer starting at 6:00pm at Pyatt Hall (limited to 100 seats), all patrons interested in attending should RSVP here.

Follow the VSO on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information about their performances and special holiday events this season.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this magical evening. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

UPDATE The winner is Lauren!