For generations, residents of Chilliwack have celebrated the holiday season with a mix of community-centered traditions, old-world customs, and a distinctly local charm. Here’s a look back at some of the most cherished holiday traditions that helped shape Christmas in Chilliwack over the decades.
1. The Community Christmas Tree Lighting (as part of the Festival of Lights)
One of Chilliwack’s most cherished traditions, and one of its newest, has been the community Christmas tree lighting. Held in downtown Chilliwack, residents would gather to see the large trees in Salish Park or nearby locations come alive with festive lights. This event typically kicked off the holiday season, with local choirs singing Christmas carols and Santa Claus making a grand entrance for children.
Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Dec 01, 1995
2. Candlelight Church Services and Midnight Mass
Many families in Chilliwack maintained a long-standing tradition of attending candlelight church services on Christmas Eve. Churches throughout the city, such as St. Thomas Anglican and the Chilliwack United Church, offered special midnight masses with candle-lit processions and hymns. The glow of candles and the sound of familiar carols brought warmth and reverence to the chilly winter night.
Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Dec 17, 1952
3. Annual Christmas Parades
Christmas parades were just as much a highlight for Chilliwack families in years past as they are today, drawing hundreds to downtown streets for a display of lights, festive floats, and marching bands. Local businesses and community groups participated with decorated floats, and Santa always closed out the parade, officially marking the start of the Christmas season.
Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Dec 10, 1969
5. Christmas Bazaars
Local Christmas bazaars, long a seasonal staple, served several purposes, including fostering community spirit, and raising funds for charitable causes or community projects. These events offered an opportunity for people to gather, shop for unique, handmade, or locally produced goods, and often included performances, decorations, and activities that celebrated holiday traditions.
Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Dec 08, 1976
6. Ice Skating on Hope Slough
While modern winters in Chilliwack may not freeze over the waterways, in past decades, colder temperatures allowed for natural ice skating. Families and friends would bundle up to glide across the frozen Hope Slough or nearby ponds, sharing hot chocolate and laughs on cold winter days. Though unpredictable, this tradition added a natural and rustic charm not just during the holidays, but throughout the winter season.
Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Feb 04, 1932
7. Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Carol Festival
The Christmas Carol Festival was an annual community event organized by the Rotary Club of Chilliwack. Beginning in 1949, this festive two day gathering featured performances by local choirs and bands, celebrating the holiday season with traditional and modern carols. Often attracting an audience of at least 50,000, the festival typically took place in early December and was a cherished tradition in the Chilliwack community for over 30 years.
A section of the choirs performing at the Carol Festival held in the Chilliwack High School. (Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Dec 09, 1960)
8. Vedder River Boxing Day Steelhead Derby
The Vedder River Boxing Day Steelhead Derby is a long-standing fishing tradition, celebrated annually on December 26th. Dating back to its inception in 1937-1938, the derby aimed to bring together fishing enthusiasts to catch steelhead, a prized species in the Vedder River. Over the years, the event has supported local environmental initiatives, such as habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead populations.
Image Credit: Chilliwack Progress Archives, Dec 29, 1954
Preserving the Past in Today’s Celebrations
Although some of these traditions have evolved or been replaced by new festivities, the spirit of community remains strong in Chilliwack’s Christmas season. From tree-lighting ceremonies to Christmas markets, today’s residents continue to honor the traditions of the past while creating memories of their own.
Comments