Fall River’s Terrific Tree Lighting Celebration Returns

The holidays are coming up quick and every day new festive events are being announced across the SouthCoast.

In Fall River, there has already been a 'Thanksmas' craft fair, the announcement of its exciting Winter Wonderland and a Christmas concert planned with Javier Colon and Sons of Serendip. Now news of the annual tree lighting has emerged, too.

Get ready to visit with Santa, drink lots of hot cocoa and be one of the first to see the city's tree all aglow outside Government Center downtown.

The city has announced that Thursday, Dec. 1, will be the first official lighting of the city's tree. The event kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with performances by Emily Nawrocki, DJ Juice, the Durfee High School Chorus and Studio M Life throughout the evening.

Santa will also be in attendance taking photos and bringing along a gift for every child. Plus kids can enjoy holiday crafts and activities and everyone can stay warm throughout the night with free hot cocoa.

The night ends with the official tree lighting at 5:45 p.m., but you can keep the Christmas spirit going into the weekend too, because Dec. 4 is expected to be the lighting kickoff event for the first Winter Wonderland at Kennedy Park.

That lighting event is the first of several December weekends when visitors can stroll through the park after dark and enjoy Christmas lights and custom-built holiday selfie stations.

Both Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17, there will also be live entertainment in the pavilion, ornament decorating, children's crafts, a story time, snacks and hot chocolate,
face painting and shopping at the Winter Wonderland, along with a visit from The Grinch on the 10th and Santa himself on the 17th.

Clearly, there are lots of lights and lots of free family fun happening in Fall River this holiday season.