The Maple Ridge Christmas Festival is a one-day event with live entertainment and a winter holiday-themed parade in early December.
The festival and the accompanying Santa Claus Parade usually celebrate the start of the holiday season.
After not taking place in 2021, the Christmas festival and parade returned on Saturday, December 3rd in 2022. There were also Glow Maple Ridge light displays to check out from November 26th until January 6th.
The Maple Ridge Christmas Festival and Parade is back in 2023 and takes place on Saturday, December 3rd from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Christmas in Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge usually celebrates the start of the Christmas season with live entertainment and festive activities at Memorial Peace Park on the first Saturday in December. The place is decorated with lights and other holiday decorations.
In 2020 the events happened in virtual formats. In 2021 the Christmas festival and parade didn’t happen in their usual formats either. Fortunately, both events returned with in-person activities on Saturday, December 3rd in 2022.
The festival in 2023 runs from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Memorial Peace Park. The parade starts at 6:00 pm.
At the event there are usually children’s crafts, photo opportunities with Santa and a small number of other family-friendly activities. Hot chocolate is often served and candy canes, cookies and popcorn are also normally given out. In 2022 there were food trucks, light displays and a Christmas-themed market to explore.
The festival itself is a small event, lasts for just a couple of hours and offers a little fun before the parade which progresses for around eight blocks through the heart of the downtown area.
We expect similar activities when the Maple Ridge festival kicks off the holiday season in 2023.
Where is the Festival?
The Maple Ridge Christmas festival takes place at Memorial Peace Park which is located between 224th Street and the ACT Arts Theatre (at 11944 Haney Place). The park is just a block south of Dewdney Trunk Road and about five blocks north of the Lougheed Highway.
Maple Ridge Christmas Parade
The Santa Claus parade in Maple Ridge is a fairly small and short parade, but a good one.
The 2022 parade began on 119th Avenue between 222nd Street and 223rd Street. From there it turned left onto 223rd Street and then turned right onto McIntosh Avenue. The parade went around Memorial Peace Park along Haney Place. Lastly, it headed south along 224th Street and finished near Selkirk Avenue.
In the parade there are usually a handful of floats, a small marching band, people on horseback, a fire truck and Santa. It’s a nice parade – short, but with good-quality entries and fun to watch at night.
Other Information
For more information about the winter holiday community event, visit the Maple Ridge Christmas Festival Society website.
To learn more about the area, see our article about Maple Ridge’s Best Places.
For lists of other events taking place this time of year in the Lower Mainland check out the following:
