---
title: "Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Winterfest open November 21 with free skating and holiday events"
description: "The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival at Civic Plaza opens November 21 with free skating through February 15, while the Museum of Surrey runs Winterfest events from November 21 to December 19."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/surrey-2026/news/surrey-tree-lighting-festival-winterfest-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-10T16:52:06.152Z"
---

Surrey's holiday season opens on November 21, with two events starting the same weekend: the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival at Civic Plaza and Winterfest at the Museum of Surrey. Both run through mid-December, with free skating at Civic Plaza continuing all the way to February 15.

## The Tree Lighting Festival and skating

The opening weekend for the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival is November 21 and 22, the Surrey Now-Leader reported on November 10. Daily skating sessions at the covered outdoor rink at Surrey Civic Plaza then run from November 26 through February 15, 2027.

Skating is free for anyone who brings their own skates. Skate rentals cost $5. The rink includes a café with snacks and drinks, fire pits, Adirondack chairs, and picnic tables. DJ performances and live music are part of the daily program.

The rink drew 43,000 visitors over its first season, the Surrey Now-Leader reported.

The broader festival adds live music on multiple stages, a holiday market, photos with Santa, food trucks, holiday characters, a toddler zone, and a sensory-friendly area.

A Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus runs on December 5 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. for $16 per person. As of the article's publication, 30 spots were listed. Registration is at surrey.ca.

A Winter Ice Palace at Cloverdale Arena runs December 12 to January 3 with festive lights, decorations, and music.

## Winterfest at the Museum of Surrey

The Museum of Surrey's Winterfest runs November 21 to December 19. It includes a Christmas Tree Fest where visitors can view decorated trees, vote for their favourites, and enter for prizes.

Three special events are part of Winterfest. Sensory Santa on November 29 is a calm, quiet session for neurodiverse children and families. The stɑl'əw̓ Craft Fair on December 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. is an Indigenous artisan market with demonstrations and locally made items. Merry Makers on December 12 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. has hands-on crafts and activities for all ages. The City of Surrey announced the events on November 9.

## Before you go

Event details, times, and registration for Breakfast with Santa are at surrey.ca. Museum of Surrey events are listed at surrey.ca/museum. Check each page before attending, as times and spots available can change.

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