Greendale Acres brings new holiday magic to Chilliwack—here’s what it’s like to visit

Greendale Acres is one of those places that doesn’t have to try very hard to feel festive. Even on a rainy December night—which is exactly when my group visited—the farm was glowing, humming, and alive with people bundled up, kids buzzing with anticipation, and lights shining through the drizzle.

The Chilliwack farmstead has rolled out a new lineup of Christmas events this year, running from Nov. 28 to Dec. 23 and blending classic traditions with some imaginative additions: an Elf Passport for kids, a Christmas market featuring local makers, a light display that sprawls across the farm, and the always-popular Greendale Express Train. The calendar also includes Santa visits, fireside nights with live music, Christmas movies in the Haybale Auditorium, and a U-Pick tree lot.

“We see giving as part of everyday life,” co-owner Vanessa Oddy said in the farm’s announcement. “Christmas isn’t about stores or gifts—it’s about those simple moments of generosity and thoughtfulness.”

Below are the highlights from Greendale Acres’ expanded calendar—plus what the experience actually felt like from the ground.

Lights that turn adults back into kids

Leave it to Greendale Acres’ Christmas lights to make you feel like a kid again. Even with steady rain falling, last Friday, the holiday vibes stayed high. Families wandered along the pathways, umbrellas glowing from the reflections of twinkling bulbs. Kids giggled. Adults did too. Nobody hurried.

One tip from experience: if it’s raining, take the train. The Greendale Express is covered, so you get a full tour of the lights while staying dry—a win for both comfort and Instagram photos. The ride is fun, festive, and surprisingly romantic for couples tucked into the back rows.

A top-tier Santa

Santa makes scheduled appearances throughout December, arriving by tractor on select dates. We didn’t happen to catch the big entrance, but the Santa we met was top-notch—warm, patient, and extremely camera-ready.

Photos are by donation to the local food bank, adding a welcome spirit of giving to the visit.

The Wishing Tree, where joy meets humour meets heartbreak

One of the most unexpectedly human parts of the visit? The Holiday Wishing Tree. Visitors write down hopes and dreams on small cards—serious, sweet, cheeky, and sometimes painfully real. A few that caught our eye:

• “I wish: The girls have Xmas at home <3”

• “I wish: To win the lottery.”

• “I wish: To have a baby next Christmas.”

• “I wish: David Eby steps down.”

• “I wish: For Jackson.” Does anyone know Jackson?

• “I wish: My grandma gets better.”

Standing there, you get a sense of just how many kinds of Christmas people are having this year.

A Christmas market with local gems

Greendale’s Christmas Market is small but charming, with makers selling ornaments, stocking stuffers, honey, apple cider, candles, and more. A pleasant surprise: seeing well-known local roasting outfit Smoking Gun Coffee Roasters alongside artisans we’d never encountered before.

It’s the kind of market where you wander slowly and inevitably find something you didn’t know you needed.

Movies and hay bales: rustic, cozy, unexpectedly great

Inside the barn, the Haybale Auditorium plays Christmas classics against a stack of, well, haybales. It’s a simple idea that works beautifully.

We forgot what movie was playing when we stopped in, but the setup—with dim lighting, the smell of hay, and families quietly watching—felt like a pocket of calm in the middle of the farm’s bustle.

Pro tip: grab a hot apple cider from the canteen before taking a seat. Fifteen minutes of rustic cinema is enough to settle anyone into the season.

Tree lot and other stops

We didn’t linger long in the U-Pick tree lot, but there were plenty of solid options. Other offerings—like Elsa’s Frost Nights and the Fireside Holiday Pavilion—weren’t part of our visit, but round out a full schedule for families who want to build a whole evening around the farm.

A note on atmosphere: the staff make it

One thing that stood out throughout our visit: the staff were wonderful. Friendly, patient, cheerful despite the weather—each interaction added to the feeling that this is a place run with care and genuine community spirit.

If you go

Christmas at Greendale Acres runs through Dec. 23. A full list of events and dates is available at greendaleacres.ca/events-on-the-farm.

Whether you come for the market, the lights, Santa photos, or just a winter walk with a hot drink, the farm manages something rare: a holiday experience that feels big in spirit but grounded in small, human moments.