Winter Lights Draws Thousands to Downtown

Members of the Winter Lights planning committee gather in the city's Out There Welcome Wagon for a celebratory photo with Santa after the downtown tree lighting event. (view more photos by Will Bucquoy / visit the Winter Lights Facebook page)

The day after Thanksgiving, thousands flocked to Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa for Winter Lights, the annual downtown tree lighting celebration. Over the past two years, the Santa Rosa Chamber has taken an expanded role in producing this annual event in partnership with downtown and local businesses, Sutter Care at Home, Amaturo Sonoma Media Group and the City of Santa Rosa.

To the delight of kids young and old, Santa Claus arrived by fire truck to kick off festivities. With specialty food trucks and vendors, children’s activities, an ugly sweater contest, and live music, ballet and theatre performances, there was a lot to see and do before the main event.

The festivities were particularly special to those who participated in the Remembrance Candle Lighting portion of the night, a tradition in honor of loved ones who are no longer with us. And after all the candles were lit, the crowd of thousands shouted out the countdown to illuminate 5,000 color-changing LED lights on the grand tree.

As the Chamber prepares to move its offices to 50 Old Courthouse Square, we look forward to promoting and producing more events in downtown Santa Rosa that will create a welcoming atmosphere to the community, consumers, tourists and businesses.