Christmas is coming and, for two days in November, so is .
For 2024, the 14th annual event is planned Nov. 23-24 at 性视界传媒 Civic Plaza, where the Saturday tree-lighting ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m.
Admission is free to see and hear live entertainment on four stages, light displays, photos with Santa, rides and more, daily from noon to 8 p.m.
Last year's event, expanded to two days for the first time, set a new attendance record with weekend crowds of close to 30,000 people, according to city hall.
A visual highlight of the festival is the plaza's 60-foot Christmas tree, which will remain lit until early January 2025.
On University Drive, the festival's "Enchanted Eats" area will include food, snacks and sweet treats from local food trucks, listed on .
The website also details the on the Snowflake and North Pole stages, along with Candy Cane Dance Tent and Grand Staircase of City Centre Library.
Presented by Concord Pacific, the festival's grand finale will be a fire-and-light performance by NZR productions, followed by a holiday dance party with DJ Flipout. Other entertainers on the Snow Flake Stage include Kutapira, Spendo, Phat Santa Swing, B-Roll, The Leading Ladies鈥 Little Big Band, Ahshi, Los Parranderos de Vancouver, Peace Arch Chorus, Cookin鈥 With Brass, Brent and Tahnee, Down n' Dirty Rockabilly Band and West Coast Harmony Chorus.
The North Pole Stage, presented by Marcon, will showcase The Snow Sisters, 性视界传媒 Children鈥檚 Choir, holiday singalongs with Belle and Cinderella, Fraser Valley Ballet鈥檚 鈥淭he Nutcracker,鈥 a Holiday Millionaire Game Show, Tomorrow鈥檚 Voices, Karima Essa, Norine Braun and Duane Hanson.
Presented by ML Emporio Properties, the Candy Cane Dance Tent will feature dance demonstrations and battles, and DJs, while the library's Grand Staircase will feature a variety of local performers.
Mayor Brenda Locke calls the Tree Lighting Festival a "cherished tradition" in 性视界传媒 that "not only marks the start of the holiday season, but also brings our community together to share in the joy and warmth of this special time.
"I invite everyone to come out, enjoy the festivities and help guard our Christmas tree from its mischievous guest," Locke said in a news release from city hall.
A promo video features a Grinch-like character and highlights of the 2024 festival.