Christmas decorations, specifically trees and lights, are one of the most reliable ways to tell that the holiday season is here. The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510, however the first lights weren’t until the 17th Century, and they used candles, so to say it was quite dangerous is an understatement. It wasn’t until Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea for electric Christmas tree lights, that they were developed and sold in stores in 1890.
For many people, driving around their local area to view and admire the biggest and best Christmas tree and light displays is something of a tradition. If you’re inclined to travel during the holiday season, you can enjoy a similar experience in a big way by attending some of the country’s most spectacular Christmas tree lighting ceremonies. Probably the most famous of these is the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House on December 4th, but space for this event is determined by lottery, which is already closed for this year. Here are a few other tree lightings you might want to attend if you live nearby.
America’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree. On December 7th at 5:30 pm this year, residents of Humboldt County, California, along with their visitors, will celebrate the holiday season by decorating a living 150-foot spruce with colored lights in the town of Ferndale. And this is just the highlight of a day full of celebration. Before the lighting ceremony begins, enjoy the town’s 39th Annual Christmas Celebration in song, performed by the Ferndale Community Choir. After the ceremony, share a meal with the locals at Portuguese hall. As a bonus, you’ll be able to enjoy exploring the beautiful town that describes itself as a “Victorian Village.” The Christmas decorations only add to the charm of the already picturesque area.
Merry Old Town Christmas Tree Lighting. This ceremony, taking place in historic Manassas, Virginia, will be held this year on December 5th. Gather on the Manassas Museum lawn to hear local choral groups and bands celebrate the holiday season in song. At 6:00 pm, Santa arrives by train to light the Christmas tree. Follow up the tree lighting with hayrides, more music, ice skating, and other amusements.
Stroudsmoor Tree Lighting Celebration. The residents of the town of Stroudsmoor County definitely know how to light up a tree, and a town. The entire day of December 7th is full of activities for people of all ages, culminating with the lighting of a 70 foot decorated tree in the evening. Spend the day enjoying activities like lunch and readings with Mrs. Claus at the public library, or the art reception at the Auradell Library. Take the kids to the petting zoo, or for a pony or wagon ride. At 6:15 pm, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at Stroudsmoor Mountain to kick off the lighting ceremony at 5:30 pm, and the fireworks go off at 6:30 pm. All in all, it’s quite a show.
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting in New York City. One of the more popular tree lightings in the country is the one that occurs at Rockefeller Center. There are more than 45,000 lights on this huge tree. Festivities kick off each year with a concert that generally features quite a few stars. This year they will include LeAnn Rimes, Cyndi Lauper and Trisha Yearwood. The festivities begin at 7:00 pm on December 3rd.
Sonoma Plaza Tree Lighting. Even wine country gets in on some of the tree lighting fun. On Friday, December 5th at 5:30 pm residents will gather around Sonoma Plaza as they take part in this magical holiday tradition. In addition to the tree lighting, there will be music and inspirational stories shared.
Boston Common Holiday Tree Lighting. Christmas is a big deal in Boston. The annual tree lighting in Boston Common features a whole host of activities from 4 pm to 8 pm on December 4th. These activities include ice skating, Christmas themed games as well as prizes. The tree lighting will take place at approximately 7:55 pm. The tree that’s the centerpiece of this event is actually sent from Nova Scotia.
Many areas around the country have tree lighting ceremonies, and each individual town puts its own unique spin and style into the performance. Attending a tree lighting ceremony is a fun way to really get to know the area that you happen to be visiting. Of course, there may be tree lighting ceremonies where you live, too; it’s worth looking into if you aren’t planning to travel this year!
