If the glowing Coca-Cola Christmas truck ad gives you a seasonal pang of nostalgia, there's a parade in Metro Vancouver built around exactly that feeling. The Surrey Santa Parade of Lights marks its 20th year this season, rolling through the historic Cloverdale town centre — a spot with a direct link to the source material, since parts of that 1997 commercial were actually filmed downtown Cloverdale.

The evening belongs to lights. Decorated antique cars and trucks, illuminated floats, local sports and car clubs, community organizations and the BC Vintage Truck Museum all take part, with the Cloverdale BIA organizing and volunteers doing much of the legwork. Santa himself is expected to make an appearance, which is arguably the point of the whole exercise.

This year's edition kicks off at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29. The route starts at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, heads east onto 60th Avenue, then loops clockwise along 177B Street, 57th Avenue and 176A Street before finishing back at the Fairgrounds, dispersing at the Recreation Centre. The main viewing stretch sits on 176th Street (Pacific Highway) between 56A and 58A Avenue — worth knowing if you're picking a viewing spot.

It's free to attend, but organizers ask parade-goers to bring a non-perishable food item or a small gift. Donations go to the Cloverdale Community Kitchen, the Surrey Food Bank and the Surrey Christmas Bureau, all of which help local families over the holidays. Easy goodwill: grab a can of soup on the way out the door.

For travellers, this is a nice low-cost excuse to explore a corner of Metro Vancouver most visitors skip. Cloverdale has a small-town historic core that feels very different from downtown Vancouver, and it's an easy drive or transit trip from anywhere in the region. Pair the parade with dinner at a local spot and you've got a proper festive evening. Dress for it — late November in Surrey means cold and possibly damp, so layers, hats and waterproof footwear are non-negotiable if you're standing curbside for an hour or more. Arrive early for a good vantage point along the route; the good spots fill up fast at family events like this one.

If you're visiting Vancouver in late November, this slots neatly into a broader festive itinerary alongside the city's Christmas markets and light displays — just add a warm coat and a food bank donation.