Find Your Festive

When we’re travelling during the holiday season, taking some time to enjoy familiar flavours, sights and sounds can remind us who we are and where we come from. This is especially important when we’re busy running from meeting to meeting, a long way from home and from those we love. No matter whether it’s the smell of pine needles, some favourite songs or a love of chasing down the perfect gift, you’ll find a ton of options to squeeze into your trip after the contract is signed and the laptop put away this holiday season.

We’ve selected some fun-filled events and venues that will deliver on traditional festivities as well as a couple that promise to shake things up a little. Many are local to Surrey, while others are further afield. Most are easily accessible by transit. And if you’re still looking for that one special sound or event that spells holiday magic to you, just ask one of our amazing Civics.

Holiday Spectacles

1. Peter Pan, the Panto (Nov 22-Dec 2) at Surrey Arts Centre
2. Surrey Tree Lighting Festival (Nov 24) at Civic Plaza
3. Gingerbread Village (Dec 8-16) at City Central Shopping Centre
4. Festival of Lights (Dec 1-Jan 6) at VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver

Music

1. Elektra Women’s Choir (Nov 25) at Good Shepherd Church, Surrey
2. Handel’s Messiah (Dec 8) at Bell Centre, Surrey
3. Karaoke Christmas Lights (Dec 1-29) at Stanley Park, Vancouver
4. Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir (Dec 4) at Surrey Arts Centre
5. Christmas with Chor Leoni (Dec 14-17) at various locations
6. Sweet Soul Gospel Choir Concert (Dec 22) at St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church, Vancouver

Food

• Vancouver Christmas Market (Nov 21-Dec 24) at Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver

Shopping

1. Christmas Boutique (Nov 13-Dec 22) at Place des Arts, Coquitlam
2. Glow Christmas (Nov 22-Jan 19) at Milner Village Garden Centre, Langley
3. Valley Collective Christmas Market (Nov 30-Dec 1) at Rail District Community Market, Abbotsford
4. Semiahmoo Arts Holiday Market (Dec 1-2) at South Surrey Rec & Arts Centre
5. Make it! Holiday Show (Dec 12-16) at PNE, Vancouver

Sports/Active

1. Peak of Christmas for skating/skiing/snowshoeing (Nov 23-Jan 6) at Grouse Mountain
2. Surrey’s Christmas Train (Dec 7-31) at Bear Creek Park, Surrey
3. Big Elf Run for 1/5/10 km run (Dec 15) at Stanley Park, Vancouver
4. Winter Ice Palace for skating (Dec 21-Jan 6) at Cloverdale Arena, Surrey