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Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

Welcome the Holiday Season at the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting!

This annual event features a jam-packed schedule of dynamic attractions to officially kick off the holiday season in Grand Rapids!

This year's event will include:

Events

Santa and Mrs. Clause will make a grand entrance
The Grand Rapids Ballet will have characters from the Nutcracker
There will be open-skate at Rosa Parks Circle
Maranda will make an appearance
USPS will be onsite to help you write your letters to Santa and have items for all your mailing needs this holiday season
Grand Rapids Public Library will have a craft to make
Corgis will do a parade around the ice rink after the tree is lit
Read GR will have a free book giveaway
Festival of the Arts will have a stamping activity
Grand Rapids Rise team members and Griff from the Grand Rapids Griffins will be there
Grand Rapids Gold will bring a wheel to spin and Bucket will be there
Grand Rapids Children's Museum will have the Kids Can Van
Salvation Army will have a Brass Band
Matrix will have the photo booth for Santa and the giant snow globe for the Whoville characters
Launch Trampoline Park will have handouts
Mexican Heritage Association of Western Michigan will have a fun craft to make
Girls Chorale Academy will sing 3 songs
The Home Depot will have Kids Workshop
The Western Michigan University Skate Team will perform
The Golden Tiger Kung Fu group will do a martial arts demonstration

Food

Angel's Thai Cafe will have Kapoon soup samples and coupons
Salvation Army will have hot chocolate, coffee, and donuts
Sanaritas will have candy and flags from countries around the world
Pochis Colombian Coffee will have a cultural booth and Colombian Drinks
Edelweiss Club of GR will have mulled spiced wine, hot coco, and cookies
West Michigan Asian-American Association will have soup samples
Irish Culture Committee will have Irish soda bread samples
Asian Pacific - Filipino Asian Festival will have treats & Lunar New Year coloring sheets and 2024 info handouts
Patty Matters food truck (will have a fee)
Dine Out Dawgs food cart
Studio Park will have popcorn
Gerald R. Ford International Airport will have a table and handing out swag bags including a reusable bag, light up necklaces, airplane toys, and candy
Country Fresh will bring festive ice cream flavors
Soldadera Coffee will have a table

If you are able:

The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) will be at the GRFD booth accepting donations of:

2023 Jingle Bell Run powered by Gazelle Sports

Attention runners! Immediately following the tree-lighting ceremony (5-6pm) there is a FREE 3-mile run that begins at the northern end of Rosa Parks Circle.

View a map of the course and get registered for this festive fun run today!