Western Canada's tallest Christmas tree will be lit in Vancouver this weekend

Join thousands of people as the tallest tree on this side of Canada lights up for the first time this season.

Vancouver’s largest Christmas tree will be lit at a fun holiday event this weekend.

Over 100,000 people are anticipated to attend the annual Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at the Vancouver Art Gallery in šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square on Friday, Nov. 29 presented by Amacon.

The event starts at 6 p.m. and ends with the tree lighting.

Towering at 76 feet, the Christmas tree is Western Canada’s tallest, offering bountiful boughs of twinkling lights for excited onlookers.

Attendees can sip free hot chocolate at the event, enjoy live entertainment, and come up close and personal with Santa. CBC Contributor and Personality Fred Lee will host the event and several city council members will make appearances.

Other vendors will be on-site selling drinks, food, and other items.

The festive event raises money to support various charities, including the BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver International Children’s Festival, and Honour House. People making larger donations over $500 must complete a form and the organizers will contact them. Donations under this amount can be made through the Buy a Bulb program. It costs $5 to buy a “virtual bulb” and $10 for three.

Over the past five years, the tree lighting festival has raised over $1.7 million.