Politics & Government
Come Downtown Friday Night For Danville's Beloved Holiday Tradition
The perfect antidote to the frenzy of Black Friday shopping is Danville's annual oak tree lighting ceremony.
Even the biggest Scrooge will find his heart melting with the warmth of the holiday spirit present at Danville's annual lighting of its Old Oak Tree.
Pretty much everyone in town participates or attends the ceremony and that's the magic of it.
The event starts at 5:15 p.m. at the town's famous 350-year-old tree on Diablo Road. The Danville Girl's Chorus and the San Ramon Valley High School Choir set the mood by singing favorite holiday songs.
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Then Father Christmas and the Snow Angel make their grand entrance. They sprinkle some special secret magic dust. And, OMG! The tree suddenly lights up! Only in the movies. Or, only in our dreams.
More entertainment comes from such local artists as Alma Desnudas, Devil’s Angels, The Monte Vista Beauty Shop Quartet, and Spirit Force Cheer and Dance of CPC will perform, as well as the Danville Community Flute Ensemble, East Bay Dance Company, Pacific Boy Choir Academy, America’s Best Karate and San Ramon Dance Academy.
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“This event is such a great Danville tradition,” said Shelby McNamara, president and CEO of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. “We see new generations of families here every year enjoying our town and visiting our merchants and restaurants, who stay open late and really go all out and put on their very best.“
Post-tree lighting, Danville's favorite merchants and restaurants pass out cocoa and hot apple cider.
If you're like the more sane people on the planet, you were not camped out at any big box store 3 a.m. Friday to rush in for so-called Black Friday holiday deals.
Danville's merchants offer a far more pleasant shopping experience Friday evening post-tree lighting. Stroll Danville's festively lit streets and stop in to buy unique books or one-of-a-kind jewelry or other gifts.
The ceremony starts at 5:15 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m. Streets in the area of the tree lighting will be closed, including stretches of Diablo Road, Hartz Avenue and Front Street, according to a map prepared by the Town of Danville.
