The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival has become the official start to the holiday season, with free family fun, entertainment, community engagement, and market shopping. You can enter to win $50 in food truck tickets from Miss604 to enjoy coffee, burgers, twisted potatoes and more!

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival

Where: City Hall Plaza (13450 104 Ave, Surrey)
When: Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Admission: FREE

Presented by Coast Capital Savings, this year’s free event will feature new lights and interactive displays on the festival grounds including an illuminated Light Tunnel, Enchanted Forest, North Pole Stage and Candy Cane Dance Tent. Shop the Holiday Market and Village, and stop by the Holiday Fun Zone on University Drive with variety of food trucks, road hockey, and amusement rides.

Over 30 local performers, choirs and children’s acts will offer free live performances across seven stages throughout the day. Award-winning Canadian pop singer Begonia will headline the Main Stage after the inaugural tree lighting at 6:30pm. Additional performers include Fleetwood Mac tribute band Dreams, Hotel Mira, and Leisure Club.

The Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Christmas Bureau, Sophie’s Place and the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society will be on site collecting donations. Follow the City of Surrey’s events team on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Win Food Tickets

I have $50 in food tickets to give away so you can enjoy the following food trucks on site:

• Express Rotato – Twisted Potatoes (Veg)
• Japa Dog – Specialty Hot Dogs (Veg)
• Mr. Ken’s Mini Donuts – Mini Donuts and Christmas Treats (V, Veg)
• Sajetarian – Saj Bread Wraps (V, Veg)
• Salty’s Lobster Shack – Lobster and Seafood Dishes
• Taco N Todo – Mexican Food (Veg)
• Tim Hortons – Coffee (V, Veg)
• Triple O’s WhiteSpot – Burgers and Fries (V, Veg)

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 Monday, November 18, 2019.

UPDATE The winner is Bev!

Miss604 is a Proud Sponsor of the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival

The Yaletown Business Improvement Association (“YIBA”) is proud to present its 8th annual CandyTown winter festival on Saturday, November 30th. Set to transform the Yaletown district into a winter wonderland, CandyTown is downtown Vancouver’s only free outdoor winter market — a one-day holiday extravaganza!

CandyTown in Yaletown

When: Saturday, November 30, 2019, 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Where: Yaletown: Mainland, Hamilton and parts of Davie St.

This year’s CandyTown will offer new and exciting elements including an adult focused “Winter is Coming” attraction. Find amazing ice sculptures and live swordplay demonstrations, in addition to a winter throne. Adding to the theme, Academie Duello will be on site for the “sleigh-ing” of the dragon, an amazing spectacle with swords and, of course, a dragon.

Returning favourites to this year’s CandyTown include classic photos with Santa and The Ice Queen. Mainland Street will see roaming characters such as gingerbread men, candy canes and snowmen as well as various musical entertainers and vendors at the “All I Want For Christmas” street market.

After working up an appetite shopping and exploring, attendees can sip and snack their way along the beautifully decorated Yaletown streets, with enticing restaurants on every corner. 19+ festive goers can participate in a popular self-guided CandyTown Cocktail Tour where participating restaurants such as Banter Room, House Special, Tasty Indian Bistro and MeeT offer an exclusive one day only holiday cocktail.

The YBIA is proud to support BC Children’s Hospital, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and the Rotary Club, with proceeds from photos with Santa and the horse drawn carriage rides going directly to these organizations. Attendees can also donate to participating charities on site during this year’s CandyTown.

For more information follow YIBA on Twitter and Instagram.

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