How soon is TOO SOON to get excited about the holiday season?
Are you one of those people who can’t stand to hear Christmas music in the mall until well into December? Or do you have your Christmas playlist on shuffle already, have started watching Christmas movies and are wondering if it’s too early to put up your tree?
We’re not ashamed to admit that we embrace the holidays wholeheartedly. After all, it all goes by in such a flash! And, there’s so much going on in Surrey over the next few weeks that it’s hard not to get excited about warm apple cider, local crafts, and whether or not you’ve made the ‘good list’.
Activities
Lumagica
November 25 – December 30, 2022
Cloverdale Fairgrounds
The holiday lights extravaganza is back at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Lumagica guests are invited to experience the magical, mystical and mesmerizing world of Lumagica with family and friends. Soak up the magical atmosphere with interactive displays, visit with Santa, animations, photo opportunities and so much more. Vendors will be located throughout the park serving cocoa, mulled wine and snacks to keep you warm while wandering through the holiday lights.
Cloverdale Christmas Trees
November 25 – December 18
Museum of Surrey, 17710 56a Avenue
Where else can you find a free, local, indoor Christmas Tree Festival? Bundle up the family and take a stroll through the Museum of Surrey to enjoy over 30 Christmas trees that have been beautifully decorated by Cloverdale businesses. Drop in any time during museum hours for your holiday fix and to cast your vote, and then tour the museum after.
Surrey Santa Parade of Lights
December 4, 2022
Cloverdale Town Centre (route map)
The beloved Surrey Santa Parade is back! Get there early and stake out a spot along the parade route, then get ready for a traditional (with a twist) Santa Parade through Cloverdale. The traditional parade has everything you love about a parade, floats, marching bands, antique vehicles and horses, but the big event is the amazing lighted Truck Parade. Inspired by the 1997 Coca-Cola lighted truck commercial, the Surrey Santa Parade is truly magical! The Surrey Santa Parade starts at 5 pm precisely at the corner of 176A St and 60th Avenue and heads east to 177B Street.
Gingerbread Village
December 3 – 11, 2022
Central City Shopping Centre, 10153 King George Blvd
The most delicious display of the year is the Downtown Surrey BIA’s annual Gingerbread Village at Central City Shopping Centre. Breathe in the delicious and warm scent of cinnamon and nutmeg and prepare to be amazed at the talent and skill that participants bring to their festive creations. Each creation is unique, so be sure to take the time to appreciate the details and hard work that goes into creating a true gingerbread masterpiece. Over 20 gingerbread houses usually make up the display and be sure to vote for your favourites by donating! $1 = 1 vote and all of the money collected will be donated to the Surrey Christmas Bureau.
Winterfest at Bear Creek Park
December 1 – 31, 2022
13750 88th Avenue
Taking place in the backdrop of beautiful Bear Creek Park, Winterfest comprises of two mini train rides thanks to the Bear Creek Park Train and Mini Golf. The Santa Express is a day-time train ride along a themed track of merry and fun displays. Take home an activity bag and a treat, and snap a photo with Santa before The Big Day. The Christmas Night Train lights up Bear Creek Park’s Enchanted Forest, accompanied by beautiful and bright light displays.
Winter Ice Palace
December 17 – January 2, 2023
Cloverdale Arena | 6090 176 Street
The Cloverdale Arena transforms into a winter wonderland for three weeks of festive skating. With the rink surrounded by lights, trees and decorations and all your favourite Christmas songs, this fun family skate is sure to get you into the holiday spirit in no time. Please note that this year participants are required to book skating times in advance.
Markets
stɑlə̓w̓ Christmas Craft Market
December 3, 2022
Museum of Surrey | 17710 56A Avenue
Museum of Surrey has once again partnered with the stɑlə̓w̓ Arts & Cultural Society for the stɑlə̓w̓ Christmas Craft Market. The holiday market features hand-crafted goods from unique Indigenous and local artists and artisans. Handmade jewelry, art, natural soaps and lotions, leather, and delicious gourmet treats are just a handful of the goods for sale.
Heart to Home Holiday Market
November 26 & 27, 2022
Studio Theatre at Surrey Arts Centre | 13750 88 Avenue
Give the gift of art this holiday season. And it’s even more special if that gift is a beautiful one-of-a-kind creation from a local artist who is part of the Surrey Art Gallery Association. The SAGA Gift Shop is a great source of inspiration for gift-giving, with items ranging from handmade silk scarves and original paintings to intricately designed jewellery, funky sculpture, well-crafted pottery, functional woodworks, homemade jams and jellies, and more.
Christmas Store at Potters
Open daily through December 24
19158 48th Avenue
The Christmas Store at Potters in South Surrey is the largest store of its kind in Western Canada and has the most unique selection of festive gift and decorating ideas anywhere. Open now through December 24, this is the only store in the region where you can find tens of thousands of holiday-related items – from ornaments, designer trees and collectables, to stocking stuffers, food items and much more.
Performances
The Nutcracker
November 26, 2022
Chandos Pattison Auditorium, 10238 168 Street
The Surrey City Orchestra is excited to once again be able to present Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker. The SCO will be led by internationally renowned conductor, Leslie Dala, who is the Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, as well as guest conductor for Vancouver Opera and The Got Ballet. The orchestra will be joined by the Central Ballet Academy, Kvitka Ukrainian School of Dance, Vancouver’s Ammara Dance Company, and the award-winning Surrey Children’s Choir directed by Stephen Horning.
Sleeping Beauty the Musical Panto
November 23 – December 4, 2022
Main Stage at Surrey Arts Centre
A perfect holiday treat for the whole family! Cheer the good guys, boo the bad guys and laugh out loud at the silliness of the retelling of the classic story of Sleeping Beauty, featuring all your panto favourites. Add toe-tapping music from the 60s, 70s and 80s and you have a night to remember.
The Snow Queen, a Frozen Adventure
December 16 – 26, 2022
Surrey Arts Centre
Traditional British Panto at it’s rambunctious best! Sparkling, magical, family fun awaits. Sing along with upbeat music, groan at corny old jokes, cheer the good guys and boo the bad in another hilariously funny show with sparkling sets and colourful costumes. A perfect holiday treat for the whole family! Presented by the Royal Canadian Theatre Company. The December 22 performance is a “Relaxed Performance” offered for those patrons with intellectual, learning, communication and other sensory challenges.
Holly Jolly Christmas with the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir
Main Stage at Surrey Arts Centre
December 6 | 7:30pm
Deck the Arts Centre with Choirs of Welsh Men, fa la la la la! Back for the 2022 holiday season, fans of Christmas choral music can expect these beloved seasonal singers to get the Yuletide party started once again! A Surrey holiday tradition for more than 30 years, The Vancouver Welsh Men Choir’s shows are always filled with joy and magic of the season.
A WONDERHEADS Christmas Carol
December 6 | 7:00pm
Bell Peforming Arts Centre, 6250 144 Street
Praised by the CBC as “Pure magic” and the Globe and Mail as “Powerful, surprising and moving,” acclaimed theatrical imagineers, the WONDERHEADS, present their delightfully captivating reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with giant masks, whimsical puppets, and wondrous theatrical invention. A feast for the eyes, ears, heart and funny bone, this astonishing production features larger than life characters, glowing ghosts, and 10-foot-tall puppets—to name just a few of the treats in store for audiences as they are whisked away with Ebenezer Scrooge on his magical Christmas Eve adventure. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be utterly enchanted this holiday season!