Downtown Holiday Festivities

Annual Tree Lighting with Santa & Light Parade

Saturday, November 22, 5:30-9pm

The Downtown Traverse City Association invites you to get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with holiday magic! Join us for the Santa’s Arrival, the Tree Lighting, and the dazzling Light Parade, all happening in the heart of downtown Traverse City!

This cherished community event is free and open to everyone, and we invite you to be part of the festive fun. The night kicks off with the tree lighting at Cass and Front Street, where Santa himself will join the mayor and special guests to illuminate our holiday tree. Once the lights are shining bright, the Light Parade will roll down Front Street from Franklin Street west to Union Street, showcasing creatively decked-out floats and vehicles, musical performances, the Big Guy himself, and thousands of twinkling lights from local businesses and community partners.

Gather along the parade route, don your favorite light-up accessories, and enjoy the spectacle as it lights up the night!

3:30pm: Front Street closes
5:30pm: Holiday music & special guests
6:00pm: Tree Lighting with Santa
6:30pm: Light Parade
Post-parade until 9pm: Santa’s House visits

Parade Entries

We will be accepting applications for the 2025 Light Parade in the fall. If you would like to be added to the email list for the 2025 parade application, please contact Sara Klebba.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Want to play a BIG role in this holiday tradition? Sponsorships help us keep this incredible community event running strong, and there are several levels of benefits available – including social media promotion, logo placement, live mentions, and more. Plus, all sponsors receive a free parade entry. To learn how your business can shine, contact Sara Klebba, Director of Events & Engagement for more details.

Volunteer Opportunities

To keep Downtown events going strong, we need volunteers. Help us “keep the lights on” – assist with staging the parade, keeping the route clear, and safely de-staging. Without our dedicated volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to bring you these community celebrations. Let’s connect! Apply here.