Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack's Christmas parade is hosted by the local Rotary Clubs and the City, and it has drawn about 80 entries down Yale Road. Downtown, a 40-foot tree stands at District 1881, and out on the farm Santa sometimes arrives by tractor.
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The story of Christmas in Chilliwack, British Columbia
Eighty entries down Yale Road and a 40-foot downtown tree
The Rotary Christmas Parade is hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Chilliwack and the City of Chilliwack. One local report counted 80 entries, including a Santa Claus float. That year's route started at Spadina Avenue and Corbould Street at 5:30 p.m., went to Wellington Avenue, passed Five Corners and followed Yale Road.
Downtown, District 1881 built a newer tradition around a 40-foot Christmas tree. Its holiday event reached its fifth year in 2025.
A free bus ride to the parade and a village with no rides
The 2025 parade rolled on Saturday, November 29, at 5:30 p.m. BC Transit made local routes free that day, and GW Graham students livestreamed it. Downtown, the District 1881 tree lighting was listed for November 15.
There were no rides at District 1881 that year because of downtown construction, but entertainment included live music, choirs and roaming characters. Greendale Acres ran its Christmas from November 28 to December 23, and Cultus Lake's Main Beach lit up nightly from November 23 through New Year's.
Santa on a tractor and photos that feed the food bank
At Greendale Acres in 2025, Santa arrived by tractor on select dates, with tractor tours from 4 to 8 p.m. on select Thursdays and Fridays starting November 28 and running into mid-December. Photo donations went to the local food bank. Elsa visited on December 6 and 13 during the Christmas market, and kids could collect an Elf Passport.
At District 1881, Santa photos in Sasquatch Alley were by donation Tuesday to Thursday and $40 per group Friday to Sunday.
Traditions today
- Rotary Christmas Parade: The Rotary Clubs of Chilliwack and the City host an evening parade, which started at 5:30 p.m. on November 29 in 2025.
- District 1881 Christmas: A free downtown holiday village with a 40-foot tree, live music, choirs and roaming characters, now in its fifth year as of 2025.
- Santa photos in Sasquatch Alley: Photos at District 1881 are by donation Tuesday to Thursday and $40 per group on weekends.
- Greendale Acres Christmas: A farm Christmas with a covered train, a light display, a market, an Elf Passport and Santa tractor tours.
- Cultus Lake lights: A self-guided walk of lights at Main Beach, lit nightly from late November through New Year's in 2025.
A fact for kids
At Greendale Acres, Santa sometimes arrives on a tractor, and the donations for his photos go to the local food bank.
Questions about Christmas in Chilliwack, British Columbia
When was the Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade in 2025?
The 2025 parade was on Saturday, November 29, at 5:30 p.m. It is hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Chilliwack and the City of Chilliwack. No 2026 date had been confirmed on pages we could open when this was researched, so check the Rotary Clubs or the City for this year's date.
Is transit free on Chilliwack parade day?
In 2025, BC Transit made local Chilliwack routes free on parade day, November 29, with detours in the parade area from 4 to 8 p.m. Regular fares applied to Routes 66, 71 and 72, and Route 51 Vedder had extra service. Check BC Transit for the current year before you head downtown.
Who runs the Christmas parade in Chilliwack?
The Rotary Clubs of Chilliwack and the City of Chilliwack host the parade. GW Graham students livestream the event each year.
What route does the Chilliwack Christmas parade take?
One report from an earlier year said the parade started at Spadina Avenue and Corbould Street at 5:30 p.m., went to Wellington Avenue, passed Five Corners and continued down Yale Road past Chilliwack Secondary School. The 2025 notice linked a route map, so check the current map before choosing a spot.
How big is the Chilliwack Christmas parade?
One local report counted 80 entries in the parade, including a Santa Claus float from GW Graham Middle School. Entries change every year, and the report did not give the year, so treat that number as a guide only.
Do people bring food bank donations to the Chilliwack parade?
In one earlier year, the mayor and city council walked the route with firefighters collecting non-perishable donations for the food bank. That report was not dated, so check the 2026 parade notice for a collection. Greendale Acres also directs its Santa photo donations to the local food bank.
What is District 1881 at Christmas?
District 1881 is a historic downtown area of narrow, European-inspired streets that becomes a free Christmas village. The centrepiece is a 40-foot tree, and 2025 added live music, choirs and roaming characters. The tree lighting was listed for November 15, 2025,.
Is Christmas at District 1881 free?
Admission was free in 2025, according to Curiocity. Santa photos in Sasquatch Alley were by donation Tuesday to Thursday and $40 per group Friday to Sunday, taken first come, first served. Retail stores in the district stayed open until 8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, so some families made a shopping trip of it.
When can kids see Santa at District 1881?
Santa's Workshop in Sasquatch Alley was listed from November 30 to December 24. In 2025, photos were Tuesday to Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and on weekends until 7 p.m. Lines are first come, first served, so arrive early on weekends, when the price is higher.
Who started the District 1881 Christmas event?
Curiocity says the holiday event was created by Algra Bros Development Ltd. and Envision Financial, and 2025 was its fifth year. That year there were no rides because of ongoing construction downtown, though live music, choirs and costumed characters still performed. Two-hour parking is on site, with several day lots nearby.
Can I bring my dog to Christmas at District 1881?
Pets were welcome at District 1881 in 2025, though individual stores could decide not to allow them. Parking was two hours on site with several day lots nearby. Since the district is outdoors and busy on weekends, a dog on a short leash and warm layers for everyone make the visit easier.
What is there for kids at Greendale Acres at Christmas?
Greendale Acres ran from November 28 to December 23, 2025. Families rode the covered Greendale Express train past a light display, visited a Christmas market, collected an Elf Passport and met Santa. There were also movies in the Haybale Auditorium, a U-Pick tree lot, a Holiday Wishing Tree and fireside nights with live music.
Does Santa really arrive by tractor in Chilliwack?
At Greendale Acres, yes, on select dates. The 2025 Santa tractor tours ran from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 28, and select Thursdays and Fridays after that into mid-December. Photo donations go to the local food bank, so the tours double as a fundraiser for neighbours.
When did Elsa visit Greendale Acres?
Elsa visited from 5 to 7 p.m. on December 6 and December 13, 2025, during the Christmas market at Greendale Acres. The farm also ran Elsa's Frost Nights as part of its holiday program. Dates can change each season, so check the farm's events page for the current visit schedule.
Where can I see Christmas lights at Cultus Lake?
Tourism Chilliwack listed a self-guided walk of lights at Cultus Lake's Main Beach, lit nightly from November 23, 2025 through New Year's. Parking was at the Cultus Lake Roundabout, in the lot next to Cultus Lake Adventure Park. The page did not list a price, so confirm it before you go.
What is Holly Jolly Chilliwack?
Holly Jolly Chilliwack is the name Tourism Chilliwack uses for its holiday season, which in 2025 pulled together District 1881, Christmas at Greendale Acres and the Cultus Lake lights. A 2024 page ran it from December 1 to 24 and mentioned 2-for-1 Greendale admission through hotel packages.
Are Chilliwack's 2026 Christmas dates confirmed yet?
When this page was researched in November 2026, the host pages we could open still showed the 2025 season for District 1881, Greendale Acres and Cultus Lake, and no 2026 parade date was confirmed. Rally Takes the Train's Chilliwack Christmas events guide adds dates as hosts publish them.
Where can I take kids on Christmas Eve week in Chilliwack?
Based on the 2025 season, Santa's Workshop at District 1881 was listed through December 24, Greendale Acres ran through December 23, and the Cultus Lake lights stayed on nightly through New Year's. Dates change each year, so confirm hours with each host before planning around Christmas Eve.
Is there a train at Christmas in Chilliwack?
Greendale Acres has the Greendale Express Train, which is covered, so families can see the lights and stay dry in the rain. It ran as part of the farm's Christmas from November 28 to December 23, 2025, alongside the Santa tours and market. Ticket prices were not listed in the coverage we read.
Is there a Christmas market in Chilliwack?
Greendale Acres hosted a Christmas market in 2025 with local makers selling ornaments, honey, candles and cider, and Elsa visited during it on December 6 and 13. The farm directs visitors to its events page for the full schedule. We found no 2026 market dates when this page was researched.
Sources
- 2025 Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade, Saturday November 29, free transit, video preview, Fraser Valley News Network
- Chilliwack's Christmas parade prepares to hit the streets, The Progress
- Light up Chilliwack, Tourism Chilliwack
- District 1881 Christmas Tree Lighting, The Fraser Valley
- A historic downtown in B.C. has transformed into a Christmas village that's free to enjoy, Curiocity
- Greendale Acres holiday events and Santa tractor tours (Nov 23, 2025), Fraser Valley Today
- Greendale Acres brings new holiday magic to Chilliwack, Fraser Valley Current