The Winter Jubilee is a free Christmas-themed event in downtown Abbotsford. It includes live music, market vendors, the lighting of the city’s tree, and more.

This year the event takes place on November 23rd. Other events that typically take place that same weekend include the Winter Extreme Ski & Board Swap in Abbotsford, as well as the Chutzpah Festival and Vancouver Christmas Market in Vancouver.

Winter Jubilee in Abbotsford

The Winter Jubilee is an annual celebration of the winter holidays. Put together by the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association, the festival has been running for more than 30 years. It’s a fun, family-friendly way to kick off the Christmas season in the Fraser Valley. The event happens outdoors and is open to the public.

The 35th edition of the Winter Jubilee takes place in 2024 on Saturday, November 23rd. The festival features all sorts of things to see and do. One highlight is the lighting of the Christmas tree. It’s the only lighting of its kind in the city, and the tree is 60 feet tall!

The Winter Jubilee also features a market with local artisan vendors, as well as a stage with live music and entertainment. Santa Claus is at the event to interact with children and for family portraits. Food trucks are on site selling festive treats and full meals. Local breweries and wineries offer various drinks too. There are also reindeer-themed games, plus stations for face painting and cookie decorating.

Whether you’re looking to do some early Christmas shopping or have a fun night out, the Winter Jubilee is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Event Hours and Location

This year the event runs from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Saturday, November 23rd.

The Winter Jubilee is held in the downtown area of Abbotsford. More specifically, it takes place along Montrose Avenue and Essendene Lane. The location is about an hour’s drive from Vancouver. If looking for other places to check out before the Winter Jubilee, Mill Lake Park is only about 5 minutes west of downtown and Castle Fun Park is about 10 minutes south.

Entertainment Schedule

Last year’s Winter Jubilee featured live entertainment throughout the evening. Some of this year’s featured performances included the following. 2024 details are TBD as of the end of July.

4:00 pm – Abby Middle All-Stars
4:45 pm – MEI Chamber Singers
6:30 pm – Santa March (with MEI Marching Band)
7:00 pm – Tree Lighting (with Lions Gate Chorus)
7:45 pm – Topaz

Note: Exact performance times and other details are subject to change.