Surrey Tree Lighting at City Hall

The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival is a family event marking the start of the winter season with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree at Surrey City Hall.

In addition to the Christmas tree and various children’s activities, a vendor market, and free concerts, the 2025 event includes a new ice rink and a fire show. The festival runs over two days.

TIP: Other events you’ll want to check out this time of year are the Cloverdale Christmas Tree Festival at the Museum of Surrey and the Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

This article includes the following information about the festival:

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival Location | Entertainment Schedule | Festival Activities | Tips & Advice | Other Information

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival

The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of November 22nd and 23rd in 2025. The runs from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm each day. As always, admission is free.

The festival is one of Metro Vancouver’s biggest free Christmas events. It includes family-friendly activities for children, holiday crafts, and the lighting of a 60-foot Christmas tree in the plaza outside Surrey City Hall.

Many market vendors set up in a large indoor tent. This year, the event has 15 Food trucks and more stages than ever for live entertainment. Inside City Hall, children can participate in craft activities and get their photo with Santa Claus.

Outside, there are free rides for children, including a mini Ferris wheel. In 2025, a brand-new free outdoor skating rink debuts, along with a new fire show on day 2.

What to Expect

Visitors can expect to see lots of families with young children and a festive atmosphere. The festival spans a large area, with multiple zones for food, rides, and various tents. Guests of all ages are full of holiday cheer. The indoor vendor market is quite large, making it a good place to do some holiday shopping. Food options are plentiful, catering to all tastes.

Festival Location

The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival takes place in the Civic Plaza at Surrey City Hall and in the City Hall Atrium at 13450-104 Avenue in Surrey. Some activities also take place next door in the Surrey City Centre Public Library. There are scheduled stage performances at the library this year.

Both venues are conveniently located right by the Surrey Central SkyTrain Station.

Festival Entertainment Schedule

There are five performance stages in 2025. Listed below is this year’s schedule for the main stage. Visit the official Tree Lighting Festival website for the full schedule and additional stage performances.

Day 1 – Saturday, November 22nd, 2025

12:00 pm — Matt Hermano
12:50 pm — Kwantlen First Nation Welcome
1:00 pm — Down n’ Dirty
2:00 pm — Antonio Larosa
3:00 pm— Viola Sabean’s Big Band
4:00 pm — NaRai
5:00 pm — The Mighty Chorus
5:55 pm — Tree Lighting
7:00 pm — O Come All Ye Soulful

Tree Lighting Ceremony

The official tree lighting happens on the first day of the festival at 6:30 pm. The mayor and council members usually light the tree. Then the remains lit until early January 2026.

Day 2 – Sunday, November 23rd, 2025

12:00 pm — Westcoast Harmony Chorus
1:00 pm — Matt Cook-Contois & Erik Severinson
2:00 pm — Quayside Voices
3:00 pm — Pat Chessell’s Celtic Christmas
4:00 pm — Connor Nelson
5:00 pm — Emmett Jerome
6:00 pm — A Holiday Disco
7:00 pm — Surrey Shines Bright Show
7:20 pm — Fire Show

(All scheduling is subject to change.)

Festival Activities

In addition to live entertainment and market vendors, activities at the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival typically include Ferris Wheel rides, a couple of smaller kid-friendly rides, photos with Santa Claus, and crafts for children. All of the above are free, but reservations are required for Santa Claus photos.

There is also the Enchanted Eats zone, where different trucks serve everything from popcorn and coffee to mini donuts, burgers, and pizza. In 2025, 15 food trucks are attending the festival.

The festival also includes its signature walk-through light tunnel, various light displays, festive photo setups, and the massive Christmas tree. Performers on stilts and others juggling also roam the festival area, providing entertainment to all.

New for 2025

The most significant new addition to the 2025 festival is their free outdoor skating rink. Located inside a tent at the holiday market, it operates both days from 12:00 pm to 7:40 pm. Guests can bring their own skates and helmets, or rent them on-site for free. Skating is first-come, first-served.

Also new in 2025 are the disco and fire show. Both these experiences are scheduled on the second day of the festival.

Festival Tips & Advice

Below are suggestions for making the most of your festival experience.

TIP #1: The concerts with headliner bands are especially popular. Head to the stage area well before their performances if you want a good view of some of the more well-known musicians and their shows.

TIP #2: Take public transit. Parking in the area is challenging. Surrey Central SkyTrain Station is right next door, and, being a Saturday, a single-zone transit ticket will get you there from anywhere within Metro Vancouver.

TIP #3: Reservations are required for photos with Santa Claus. Visit surreytreelighting.ca to book a spot. The system usually opens in November. Bring your own camera!

TIP #4: Guests who have their own skates and helmets are encouraged to bring them for the free ice rink experience.

TIP #5: Lines for the free amusement rides, food trucks, and the bathrooms can be very long. Plan the day and activities strategically.