Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market sees record numbers

Photo: City of Surrey

THE City of Surrey hosted over 18,000 attendees at the 12th annual Surrey Tree Lighting Festival at Surrey Civic Plaza this past Saturday. Attendees watched Mayor and Council flip the switch to light Surrey’s 60-foot Christmas tree, which will illuminate Surrey Civic Plaza until January 2.

“The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival has become a wonderful, free holiday tradition for residents and visitors,” says Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “We are proud to have record attendance this past weekend for this ever-popular and ever-growing event. I would like to thank staff, artists, vendors and sponsors for making this year’s event such a collective success.”

Presented by Concord Pacific, the annual event featured live performances by many Surrey artists including the Pat Chessell and Friends Celtic Christmas, Kwantlen Park Glee Club, West Coast Harmony Chorus, North Surrey Breakers, and Salish Secondary Dance.

Photo: Surrey Police Service

There were free photos with Santa, a letter writing station, and various family activities inside Surrey City Hall. Enchanted Boulevard on University Drive was lined with food trucks, free rides, and hosted dance battles in the Candy Cane Dance Tent.

Attendees shopped the expanded Holiday Market that showcased local vendors and small businesses from Surrey. New to the event this year were the Concord Pacific ‘Giving Trees’, where every pledge from attendees was matched with a $1 donation to the Surrey Food Bank. Over $1,000 was donated to those in need.

“Thank you to everyone who visited the Concord Pacific booth at the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival to make a holiday pledge. On behalf of our Surrey community, we are pleased to donate to the Surrey Food Bank and help make a difference for those in need during the holiday season,” says Peter Webb, Senior Vice President of Concord Pacific Development.

Attendees can take a survey to provide feedback on the festival for a chance to win a $300 gift card to Guildford Town Centre. For more information visit surreytreelighting.ca.