Kick off the holidays at the Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting

Don’t worry about not having your own Christmas tree up, you can be at a city-wide Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 2.

For the 10th year in a row, a huge Christmas tree will light up Robson Square for the Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting, and people will celebrate the holiday season with free snacks, photos with Santa, and a holiday concert.

While you mill around the 50-foot tree, and the three smaller trees, you’ll be able to sample free hot chocolate and cookies from the event partners. If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll also be able to visit one of the food trucks at the event.

Vancouver band Sideone will be playing at the tree lighting, and there will be a ton of kid-friendly activities – from photos with Santa and face painting, to decorating gingerbread men and writing letters headed for the North Pole.

Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting was founded by Amacon as a way to give back to the community, and it continues to fulfill that mission. The Lighting offers a Buy-a-Bulb event to help raise funds for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. For $5 you can purchase five bulbs to help light the tree, or you can get 15 for $10.

Not only will you get a chance to do a good deed, you’ll also get a chance to win something good for yourself.

When you post your photos from the event on Instagram and use the hashtag #vantree16, you’ll be entered to win a number of gift cards, including $50 for Homer Street Cafe and Bar and $50 for Tableau Bar Bistro.

Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting 2016

When: December 2, 5 to 7 pm

Where: Robson Square, 800 Robson Street

Price: Free

Daily Hive is a proud media sponsor of Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting.