Grab your coziest layers and a cup of hot cocoa as the festivities kick off with the Lighting of the Winter Village at 7pm. Located at the Pier in Sylvan Lake, the Winter Village will dazzle you with over 300,000 sparkling lights. It’s the perfect time to take a wintery stroll with your family, take in the seasonal magic, and snap some fun photos by the beautiful light installations.

The excitement continues as Santa Claus himself makes his grand arrival in town! To start your day on a rather jolly note, bring your family to have Breakfast with Santa (don’t forget to get your tickets). You will arrive at the NexSource Centre which will be decked to the halls with Christmas Spirit, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting for you. Enjoy a delicious breakfast featuring waffles, sausages, and assorted fruit while visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There are three seating times to choose from: 8:30am, 9:55am, and 11:20am. Be sure to bring your camera along to capture these holiday memories.

If you’re sharing your pictures on social media, don’t forget to tag @visitsylvanlake and use #VisitSylvanLake!

After breakfast, make your way to Santa’s Workshop at the NexSource Centre, open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Your kids will have the chance to craft their very own Christmas decorations to take home and hang on the tree. Throughout the day, Norene the Christmas Elf will be delighting everyone with festive stories, and holiday cartoons will be playing on the big screen. On Saturday, there will be two special performances by The House of Music at 10:30 am and 11:30 pm

Once you’ve had your fill of indoor fun, it’s time to bundle up and head outside for the much-anticipated Santa Claus Parade! The parade begins at 5:00 PM, winding its way from 47 Avenue and 44 Street through downtown and down to Lakeshore Drive. Find a comfy and cozy spot along the route to watch the floats roll by and be sure to bring a bag to collect festive holiday candies! You can find the map of the Parade route here.

After the Parade, make your way to any spot along the Lakefront (excluding the Pier) and get ready to gaze up at the sky for a spectacular fireworks show. Set to Light Up the Lake at 6:30 PM, the dazzling display of colors and lights will create a magical atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. It’s the perfect way to cap off the day and create lasting memories with family and friends.

The holiday magic continues on Sunday, with family-friendly fun to fill your day! If you missed breakfast with Santa on Saturday, no worries there are the same three seating times on Sunday. Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast of waffles, sausages, and fresh fruit, all while creating lasting memories with the jolly duo.

Following breakfast, head over to Santa’s Workshop. Your little ones will love creating their own Christmas decorations to take home and hang on the tree. Throughout the day, Norene the Christmas Elf will be spreading holiday cheer with her delightful Christmas stories, while festive cartoons will be showing on the big screen.

This year’s Light Up the Lake promises to be a celebration filled with joy, lights, and holiday cheer – a perfect way to kick off the festive season with family and friends. We can’t wait to see you there!