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Community Corner

Thousands Gather Downtown for Annual Tree Lighting Celebration

Thousands converged and celebrated the annual tradition of lighting the old oak tree on Diablo Road in downtown Danville Friday night

“The word is out,” wryly observed one onlooker among thousands in a teeming crowd gathered in downtown Danville for the 35th annual Lighting of the Old Oak Tree on Diablo Road Friday evening.

The event is presented each year by the Town of Danville and the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Following tradition, the jovial crowd awaited the arrival of Father Christmas and the Snow Angel to kick off the holiday season with the illumination of the iconic oak tree that is estimated to be .

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Neighbors, families and friends visited and listened to traditional holiday music performed by the Danville Girls Chorus and the San Ramon Valley High School Chorus while they waited for the big moment.

After the lighting, the crowds moved into the heart of Danville along Hartz Avenue and the surrounding streets to sample more treats and refreshments provided by local merchants, browse local shops bedecked in their holiday finest, and be entertained by local bands, carolers, and dance and cheer performers.

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Father Christmas and the Snow Angel mingled with children and adults alike, while posing for photos as they traveled around the crowded celebration.

The musical talent on hand drew particular attention from visitors from traditional seasonal performances to hard rock.

People particularly moved to the infectious rhythm of Danville’s , while down Hartz Avenue, hard rock lovers relived a bit of their headbanging past listening to the hard rocking teen band, and two-time winner of the Bay Area battle of the bands, .

The holidays are officially afoot in Danville.

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