More details about Surrey Tree Lighting Festival & Holiday Market have been announced, including an appearance by Olympic gold-medal breakdancer Philip Kim, better known as Phil Wizard.
The Vancouver-based Wizard will do a breakdancing demonstration at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, as part of the weekend-long festival, at Surrey Civic Plaza. Admission is free.
At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games last summer, Wizard won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in men’s breaking. Festival organizers say they're thrilled to host him at the event "to share his passion, creativity and expertise on breaking with Surrey’s community," according to a Thursday news release from city hall.
“I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this event," Wizard stated. "I always am thankful to connect with home and look forward to showcasing breaking and meeting everyone attending."
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she's also excited to Cheerful Little-Who make a special appearance "to protect Surrey’s 60-foot Christmas tree from a certain green humbug," at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 on the festival's main stage.
The mayor promises "a weekend filled with good cheer, bright lights and lively performances. This much-loved free event is fun for the whole family and is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. I hope to see you all there.”
Also Sunday evening, the stage will light up with the fire show called "Ember’s Awakening," followed by a dance party featuring DJ Flipout.
The 14th annual festival features a Saturday tree-lighting ceremony 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 surreytreelighting.ca.
The website also details the entertainment lineup 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’ Little Big Band, Ahshi, Los Parranderos de Vancouver, Peace Arch Chorus, Cookin’ 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, Surrey Children’s Choir, holiday singalongs with Belle and Cinderella, Fraser Valley Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” a Holiday Millionaire Game Show, Tomorrow’s Voices, Karima Essa, Norine Braun and Duane Hanson.
