Christmas Events for Kids in Prince George, British Columbia (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Prince George, British Columbia. The season opens on November 14 with Holiday Portrait Fundraiser with Purple Moose Portraits and runs until December 6 with Santa's Breakfast. Of these, 2 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Canada.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Prince George: 7
  • First: Holiday Portrait Fundraiser with Purple Moose Portraits, Prince George, November 14
  • Free events: Civic Light Up and Kopar Holiday Parade

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Prince George, British Columbia

Kids’ Christmas events
7 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Prince George
Season
November 14 to December 6
Free events
2
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Prince George

Listed soonest first: 7 confirmed events in Prince George.

Visit with Santa

Holiday Portrait Fundraiser with Purple Moose Portraits

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The Exploration Place hosts a Holiday Portrait Fundraiser with Purple Moose Portraits on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families sit for holiday portraits with Santa in the South Fort George School House on the museum grounds.

The calendar lists the price as $60 and the museum asks families to book a time. The proceeds support the museum.

Parent tip: Book your time slot ahead through the museum.

Host
The Exploration Place (opens in a new tab)
Where
South Fort George School House at The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place, Prince George (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with The Exploration Place (opens in a new tab)

New events in Prince George, British Columbia every week

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 6 more Prince George, British Columbia events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 5 Santa
  • 2 Lights
  • 2 Parades
  • 2 Breakfast and treats
  • 2 Free

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Santa Claus paradeFree

Civic Light Up

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The City of Prince George holds its 31st Annual Civic Light Up on Friday, November 27, 2026 at Canada Games Plaza. Festivities start at 4 p.m. and the official Light Up ceremony follows at 6 p.m. This year adds a synchronized aerial drone show for the first time.

Families can visit Santa, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, skate for free, get their faces painted, browse holiday markets and watch live entertainment. Complimentary hot chocolate and festive treats are part of the evening.

Parent tip: Dress warmly for an evening outdoors; Santa, wagon rides and the skating are all part of the plaza programme from 4 pm.

Host
City of Prince George (opens in a new tab)
Where
Canada Games Plaza, 808 Canada Games Way, Prince George V2L 5T6 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of Prince George (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lights

Festival of Trees

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The Festival of Trees is a Prince George holiday tradition run by the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. This year's 33rd edition is held at the CN Centre from Wednesday, December 2 to Sunday, December 6, 2026, with public hours that change by day.

The halls are split into areas of trees and displays, and funds raised support healthcare equipment and programs in Northern BC. Families can add the Festival Family Breakfast on Saturday or Santa's Breakfast on Sunday, and the free Holiday Parade runs on Saturday.

Parent tip: Buy general admission online for the day you want; weekend days open at 10:30 am.

Host
Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Where
CN Centre, Prince George (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)

New events in Prince George, British Columbia every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Prince George, British Columbia every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Santa photos

Photos with Santa

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Santa Jim offers a photos session at the CN Centre in Prince George on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m. Photography is by BergMedia.

The session falls on the same day as the Festival of Trees at the CN Centre. The page does not list prices or booking details, so check the host site.

Parent tip: Pricing and booking are not on the page; look at the host site before you go.

Host
Prince George Santa Claus (Santa Jim) (opens in a new tab)
Where
CN Centre, Prince George (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Prince George Santa Claus (Santa Jim) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Prince George, British Columbia every week

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Breakfast with Santa

Festival Family Breakfast

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On Saturday, December 5, 2026 the Festival of Trees at the CN Centre hosts a Festival Family Breakfast. Families share a holiday meal, and a special visitor from the North Pole appears with treats and cheer for the children.

After breakfast, guests can explore the festival displays. Tickets are sold through the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation page.

Parent tip: Breakfast tickets are separate from general admission, so check the festival page before you go.

Host
Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Where
CN Centre, Prince George (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)

New events in Prince George, British Columbia every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Prince George, British Columbia every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Santa Claus paradeFree

Kopar Holiday Parade

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The Kopar Holiday Parade runs on Saturday, December 5, 2026 and is free for the whole community. Festive floats and hundreds of participants make their way through the route while spectators watch from the roadside.

The Festival of Trees page asks visitors to park at the CN Centre and links a parade map. A start time is not given on the page, so check the map before heading out.

Parent tip: Park at the CN Centre and look at the parade map on the Festival of Trees page; dress for the cold.

Host
Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Where
CN Centre area, parade route, Prince George (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)

New events in Prince George, British Columbia every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Prince George, British Columbia every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Breakfast with Santa

Santa's Breakfast

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Santa's Breakfast takes place on Sunday, December 6, 2026 during the Festival of Trees at the CN Centre. Families gather for a holiday meal, and a special visitor from the North Pole brings treats and holiday cheer for the children.

Afterward you can wander the festival displays. Tickets are sold on the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation festival page.

Parent tip: Tickets are sold separately from general admission.

Host
Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Where
CN Centre, Prince George (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation (opens in a new tab)

New events in Prince George, British Columbia every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Prince George, British Columbia every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in Canada

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Christmas events for kids in Prince George, British Columbia: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Prince George, British Columbia?

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Prince George, British Columbia, each on its host’s own page: Festival of Trees (Prince George), Civic Light Up (Prince George), Holiday Portrait Fundraiser with Purple Moose Portraits (Prince George) and 4 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Prince George, British Columbia?

Yes, 2 of the 7 events here are free: Civic Light Up (Prince George) and Kopar Holiday Parade (Prince George). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Prince George, British Columbia?

Where to see Santa: Civic Light Up (Prince George), Holiday Portrait Fundraiser with Purple Moose Portraits (Prince George), Santa's Breakfast (Prince George) and 2 more. Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Prince George, British Columbia

Prince George starts Christmas on a Friday night in late November, when the City switches on the lights at Canada Games Plaza. The 2025 Civic Light Up was the 30th, with horses, skates and storytime.

Thirty years of lights on Canada Games Plaza

Prince George kicks off Christmas with the Civic Light Up, hosted by the City at Canada Games Plaza, 808 Canada Games Way. The 2025 edition was billed as the 30th annual, so the tradition goes back to the mid-1990s.

The 2025 night was a Friday in late November, and downtown shops joined in with Plaid Friday deals. The plaza is the stage: a countdown, then the lights switch on, with free hot chocolate and treats for everyone standing in the cold.

Horses, skates and a 6 p.m. switch in 2025

The 30th Civic Light Up ran Friday, November 28, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m., with the plaza lights going on at 6. Kids could visit Santa, ride in a BCNE horse-drawn carriage, skate free with skate rentals, and get their faces painted.

The Bob Harkins Branch of the PG Public Library read stories at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Two Rivers Gallery ran a kids corner at the Whimsy & Wonder Market from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Street hockey with the Cariboo Cougars and Northern Capitals filled the plaza, and choirs and dancers performed.

A parade that closed Festival of Trees weekend

The Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation runs the Festival of Trees at the Civic Centre, and in 2024 a Santa Claus parade through downtown Prince George closed it out. My Prince George Now posted 67 photos of that parade on December 1, 2024.

Horse-drawn rides at the Civic Light Up come from the BCNE, and the Light Up has included free skating on the plaza. Prince George is cold in late November, so the outdoor events are built around skating, hot chocolate and short indoor warm-ups.

Traditions today

  • Civic Light Up: The City of Prince George lights Canada Games Plaza on a late November Friday. The 2025 edition was the 30th, with the lights on at 6 p.m.
  • Horse-drawn carriage rides: BCNE horse-drawn rides circled the plaza at the 2025 Light Up, along with visits with Santa.
  • Free skating on the plaza: Tourism Prince George offered free ice skating at the 2025 event, with skate rentals available.
  • Library storytime: The Bob Harkins Branch of the PG Public Library read stories at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. during the 2025 Light Up.
  • Festival of Trees and the parade: The Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation's Festival of Trees was closed out by a downtown Santa Claus parade in 2024.
  • Whimsy & Wonder Market: Two Rivers Gallery hosted a market and kids corner on Light Up night in 2025, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

A fact for kids

At the 2025 Civic Light Up in Prince George, kids could ride in a horse-drawn carriage and skate for free on Canada Games Plaza.

Questions about Christmas in Prince George, British Columbia

When is the Prince George Civic Light Up in 2026?

The City of Prince George had not posted 2026 details when this was researched. The most recent edition, the 30th, was on Friday, November 28, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m. Check the City's website and Rally Takes the Train's Prince George Christmas events guide as late November approaches for the 2026 date.

What time did the Civic Light Up lights go on in 2025?

In 2025 the plaza lights at Canada Games Plaza went on at 6 p.m. The whole evening ran from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 28. Families who wanted Santa, skating or storytime first could arrive early and be in place before the countdown.

Where is the Civic Light Up held in Prince George?

The Civic Light Up is held at Canada Games Plaza, 808 Canada Games Way, in downtown Prince George. The City of Prince George hosts it. Most activities in 2025, including skating, carriage rides and Santa visits, were on the plaza, with a kids corner nearby at Two Rivers Gallery.

Does Santa come to the Prince George Civic Light Up?

Yes. Visits with Santa were among the featured activities at the 30th Civic Light Up in 2025. Santa has been part of the evening alongside carriage rides, skating and face painting. Exact 2026 Santa times had not been announced when this was researched, so check the City's event page.

Is there free skating at the Prince George Civic Light Up?

Free ice skating with Tourism Prince George was part of the 2025 event, and skate rentals were available. Bring warm mittens and a helmet if your child is new on skates. The 2026 arrangements had not been published yet, so confirm with the City before heading downtown.

Are there horse-drawn rides at the Civic Light Up?

In 2025 BCNE offered horse-drawn carriage rides around Canada Games Plaza during the Light Up. They were listed among the kids activities. Lines can build on a cold Friday evening, so going early near 4 p.m. is a sensible plan for families with young children.

What storytimes were part of the 2025 Civic Light Up?

The Bob Harkins Branch of the PG Public Library read stories at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Light Up night in 2025. That gave families one session before the 6 p.m. lights and one after. Check the library for 2026 times, since they had not been posted when this was researched.

Is the Prince George Civic Light Up free?

In 2025 the City promoted free hot chocolate and holiday treats, free skating and free family activities at the plaza, and no admission price was listed. Some items, such as market purchases or food, may cost money. Confirm 2026 details with the City of Prince George.

How cold does Civic Light Up night get in Prince George?

The event is held outside on a late November evening, so plan for winter weather with snow boots, hats and mittens. The sources researched here give no temperature figures. Dress children in layers, and use the warm-up spots nearby such as Two Rivers Gallery's kids corner.

What is the Whimsy & Wonder Market in Prince George?

It was a market at Two Rivers Gallery that ran alongside the 2025 Civic Light Up, with a Kids Corner from 5:30 to 8 p.m. It gave families an indoor stop near Canada Games Plaza. Whether it returns in 2026 had not been announced when this was researched.

Who performed at the 2025 Civic Light Up in Prince George?

The Chris Goodwin Band, Nove Voce Choral Society, Judy Russell's Enchainement Dance Centre and a College Heights École choir performed on Light Up night in 2025. The City also invited local Nanguz'an Outdoor Market vendors. Performers for 2026 had not been named when this was researched.

What is the Festival of Trees in Prince George?

The Festival of Trees is run by the Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation at the Civic Centre in Prince George. In 2024 a Santa Claus parade through downtown closed it out. Exact 2026 dates had not been confirmed when this was researched, so check the foundation.

Is there a Santa Claus parade in Prince George?

A Santa Claus parade through downtown Prince George closed out the Festival of Trees in 2024, and My Prince George Now posted 67 photos on December 1, 2024. Whether a parade is planned for 2026 had not been confirmed when this was researched. Watch the foundation's announcements.

What is Plaid Friday in downtown Prince George?

Plaid Friday is the shopping promotion run by Downtown PG, and it was tied to the 2025 Civic Light Up. Shops downtown offered deals the same day as the plaza lights. Parents can combine browsing with the kids activities at Canada Games Plaza, a few steps away.

How long should we stay at the Civic Light Up with a toddler?

The 2025 event ran four hours, from 4 to 8 p.m., but toddlers rarely last that long in the cold. A good plan is to arrive near 4 p.m., ride the horses or do the 4:30 storytime, then head home before the 6 p.m. crowd. Adjust to your child.

Can older kids do anything at the Civic Light Up?

Yes. The 2025 event had street hockey with the Cariboo Cougars and Northern Capitals, free skating and live music from local choirs and bands. Younger children went for Santa, carriage rides, face painting and storytime. Check the City for the 2026 program once it is posted.

Is face painting available at the Civic Light Up?

Face painting by Mandy was listed among the 2025 kids activities at Canada Games Plaza. The City did not give a price in the sources researched here. Because 2026 plans were not announced, confirm with the City whether face painting returns.

What other Christmas traditions does Prince George have besides the Light Up?

Besides the Civic Light Up, the Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation's Festival of Trees at the Civic Centre is a long-running holiday event, and in 2024 a downtown Santa Claus parade closed it out. Rally Takes the Train's Prince George Christmas events guide lists confirmed 2026 dates as they are posted.

Where can we find Prince George Christmas events for 2026?

Rally Takes the Train's Prince George Christmas events guide collects 2026 dates that hosts have confirmed. As of this research, the City of Prince George had not posted 2026 Civic Light Up details. Check back as the season approaches for the Light Up and Festival of Trees.

Why do Prince George families go to the Light Up on a Friday?

The 2025 Civic Light Up was on Friday, November 28, from 4 to 8 p.m., the same day as Plaid Friday shopping downtown. An early start lets families come after school. Confirm the 2026 day with the City before you plan your evening.

Sources

  1. Civic Light Up 2025, City of Prince George
  2. The countdown is on for the 30th Annual Civic Light Up, City of Prince George
  3. PG getting ready for Civic Light Up next week, My Prince George Now
  4. Civic Light Up, CKPG Today
  5. Photos: Santa Claus parade returns to Prince George, My Prince George Now
Kelsey Cecil
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