There's a trend to remove words "Christmas" from California Tree Lighting Ceremonies and "Easter" from egg hunts sponsored by city parks and recreation departments. These Christian holidays recognized by California cities and the U.S. government as official holidays, continue to provide favorite community events and traditions to all religions.  Below are some of the city and non-city sponsored events that invite the public to attend. The events are free to attend, unless noted otherwise.

U. S. Capitol Christmas Tree  Selected from the Stanislaus National Forest in California's Sierra Nevada, the theme is California Shines.

Theme Parks

California Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies are simple, delightful, and bring back the community spirit in places where you may not have time to known your neighbors. Using trees as symbols of the holidays dates back to over 500 years though the first commercial tree lightings for malls and department stores can be traced to a mere 100 years ago in the early 1900s.

Universal symbols for the holidays, the tree lighting is embraced by many  cultures, and in cities that sometimes struggle with separation of church & state, the tree lighting ceremony remains one of the traditions that seldom is challenged, and for the most part valued and embraced as a community, family, and friendly event.

Public tree lighting ceremonies begin around mid November at shopping malls where trees can be massive endeavors and attractions to get shoppers to come and see. Sometime carolers, cocoa and dignitaries help light the tree and in California you'll find many celebrities doing the honors since so many reside within the region.

Among the largest mall trees is the Fashion Island Tree at Newport Beach that once claimed it was the biggest cut tree in the nation.

Everyone knows that the biggest tree is the National Christmas Tree at Sequoia National Park in California where a ceremony is held annually with a wreath placed in the snow at the base of this giant that's over 2,000 years old!

Ferndale in Humboldt County claims it has the tallest living tree, another redwood giant that is amazing strung with lights. Of course it is so tall that the strung electric lights only cover a portion of the tree that graces downtown each and every day.

The Friday after Thanksgiving and the first Friday in December used to be the top days to light trees in public ceremonies but those dates are inching back  and the lightings in some places are coming earlier still.

One of the most interesting trees is made of Lego bricks at Legoland California. Disneyland declared that their tree is now artificial for the first time in over 50 years. And places such as Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm don't offer one single holiday tree, but many to enjoy.

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