December 6, 2024, 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.