Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration Lights Up Downtown

Image courtesy of TOTORORO.RORO | Inside Vancouver Flickr Pool

If you’re looking for an event to kickstart the holiday season, look no further than the 11th annual Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting celebration happening this Friday, December 1, 2017 at the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street).

This free festival is a highlight for kids of all ages and includes music, crafts, free hot chocolate and cookies. In addition, Santa will be there to help light the trees (there will be four in total)!

Reminiscent to the Christmas Tree Lighting tradition in New York, this celebration has become one of Vancouver’s favourite family-friendly (and free!) Christmas events.

Each year, the trees get bigger and bigger, and this year is no different. The largest of the four trees towers at 76-feet and will be covered with thousands of brightly lit bulbs.

Image courtesy of GoToVan | Flickr.com

If the holiday season is making you feel generous, you’re also encouraged to ‘buy a bulb‘ to help bring deserving kids to this year’s Children’s Festival. Your contribution directly impacts the outreach programs the Vancouver International Children’s Festival provides such as the Good Neighbour Program, Adopt a Class and the Hospital Outreach Program.

The Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration runs on Friday December 1, 2017 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, with the official tree lighting ceremony being held at 6:30 – 6:45pm. But, it’s not just about the pretty lights! You’ll also get nonstop entertainment with live music, food trucks, and more. You can complete your night with a visit with Santa, or stop by the Canada Post station to write a letter to the Big Man himself (word is he actually responds!)

If you’re not able to make it to the lighting celebration itself, the Vancouver Christmas trees will remain in the same location through the Christmas season, so you can check the trees out in all their glittering glory at the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street).