Concord Tree Lighting, Mayor's Sing Along

December 1, 2023, 5:30-8 p.m.

Todos Santos Plaza
Willow Pass Road (between Mt. Diablo & Grant)
Concord, CA
cityofconcord.org/DowntownEvents

Concord's Official Tree-Lighting, Carriage Rides, Mayor's Sing-Along and Santa's Grand Arrival. On-stage entertainment: School choirs and community entertainment on stage with traditional tree-lighting and holiday sing-along.

Concord's Official Tree-Lighting and Mayor's Sing-Along Santa's Grand Arrival

On-stage entertainment: 5 p.m. School choirs and community entertainment on stage with traditional tree-lighting and holiday sing-along; carriage rides by the Todos Santos Business Association.

Downtown Concord kicks off the holiday season with Santa's Grand Arrival, followed by holiday entertainment, the Mayor's Sing-Along, and Concord's Official Holiday Tree Lighting. From the city that brought cost saving measures in 2009 by using a municipal tree dubbed the Charlie Brown Tree because of its spindly appearance, scant decorations and faded brown branches, a new live tree is expected to occupy center stage at the holiday tree lighting ceremony as it did in 2010. What went wrong in 2009? Well water the city uses to keep the grass around the tree extra green caused the tree to turn extra brown, possibly because of boron in the water.

Santa arrives around 4 p.m. on a bright red fire truck and listens to kids' holiday wishes. Parents are welcome to bring a camera or opt for a professional photo available for a fee.

On-stage entertainment begins at 5 p.m. with school choirs and community entertainment on stage, followed by a holiday sing-along and traditional tree-lighting.

The Todos Santos Business Association may be sponsoring carriage rides usually in front of the First Presbyterian Church around the corner from the plaza on Colfax Street.

In 2009 when the community tree was used as the Christmas tree, there was such an outpouring of community spirit, and the story touched a nerve nationwide with people from many states that it's been hard to live up or down that memorable year. In 2010 a donated live Blue Spruce, measuring 12 to 15 feet replaced Charlie Brown to become Concord's official Holiday Tree, decorated and placed near the Todos Santos stage. When the tree reaches an appropriate height, it will be planted in Todos Santos Plaza and used each year as the Holiday Tree

Free parking

Todos Santos Plaza is enjoys free parking in two municipal garages. The Grant Street Garage entrance is on Salvio Street between Grant and Colfax streets. The Todos Santos Parking Center entrance is on Salvio Street between Galindo and Mt. Diablo streets.

For information about downtown events, visit concordfirst.org 

Other fun community events held throughout the seasons include the annual Halloween celebrations.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.