Light Displays at Surrey Light Festival

Surrey’s Light Festival at Bear Creek Park is a beautiful evening display of illuminations in one of Metro Vancouver’s most significant parks in November.

In 2019 the free event took place at Bear Creek Park over the course of two weeks in early November. In 2021 it happened from November 5th to 19th. In 2022 the event returned from November 4th until the 18th. The event’s details for 2023 are still to be confirmed.

Light Festival at Bear Creek Park

Surrey’s annual Light Festival is a free and wonderful family-friendly event that’s held in the gardens at Bear Creek Park at 13750 88th Avenue in Surrey.

At the Light Festival the plants and trees in the gardens at Bear Creek Park are lit up with spot lights and Christmas illuminations in a wide range of beautiful colours.

In years before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a small number of food trucks, a face-painting station and sometimes even free hot chocolate and popcorn. Other activities typically included a photo booth with costumes, lantern craft-making opportunities, and an illumination board to write on. At least on the busiest days, a few characters walked around the event in costume.

Due to the pandemic, in 2021 the festival probably didn’t feature any extra activities to go along with the lights. In 2022 there were food trucks on-site on select days. There were also free guided nocturnal walks that people could sign up for on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Activities for 2023’s festival are likely to be similar.

Character at Garden Light Festival — A Roaming Character at the Garden Light Festival

Festival Dates

In 2022 the Light Festival ran from Friday, November 4th, until Friday, November 18th. The attraction operated from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm each day, except on November 11th when it closed for Remembrance Day.

As always, admission was free in 2022. However, tickets had to be reserved online in advance. A limited number of tickets were available for each entry timeslot to help limit the number of guests.

Light Display at Surrey Light Festival — A Light Display that People Can Write on

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions from past years to help you make the most of your experience in future years.

TIP #1: Dress warmly, and take an umbrella or waterproof clothing if it looks like rain! It rains a lot in the Lower Mainland in November!

TIP #2: Arrive early if you can, especially if you want to join the lantern-making activities in years that they’re offered.

TIP #3: Activity stations like the face painting are usually free, but also popular and busy when available. Expect the queues to form even before the start of the event.

TIP #4: Have patience. The place can get crowded most years, especially on the Saturday and Sunday.

TIP #5: There is no SkyTrain Station near Bear Creek. Parking can be a challenge some years even though the venue has a large parking lot. The event does attract thousands of people. Arrive early if you can and consider carpooling with friends.

TIP #6: If you can get there early, go for a walk in the park and explore the place before the sun goes down.

TIP #7: Invite your friends and take your camera.