5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2023
Community members of all ages are invited to ring in the holiday season in Gaslight Village with the annual tree lighting ceremony Friday, Nov. 24.
From 5-8 p.m., attendees will enjoy the lighting of the 30-foot tree, live entertainment, DJ, reindeer, s’mores, crafting stations, carriage rides and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus – all in Regatta Plaza, 2181 Wealthy St. SE. East Grand Rapids Mayor Katie Favale will greet the crowd and begin the lighting ceremony with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
This year, photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available after the tree lighting ceremony at I’m An Artist Community Studio, 2166 Wealthy St. SE. Attendees of all ages are welcome to participate in this special offering.
The Michigan Ballet Academy will perform short variations from “The Nutcracker,” the East Grand Rapids High School student chorus, the Madrigals, will sing classic holiday carols in Victorian costumes and a DJ will be spinning a mix of holiday hits through 8 p.m. – filling the air in Gaslight Village with festive tunes.
The schedule of events is:
- 5 p.m. – Reindeer arrive, carriage rides begin and s’more and craft stations open
- 5:10 p.m. – Michigan Ballet Academy performs
- 5:30 p.m. – Madrigals perform
- 6 p.m. – Mayor Katie Favale welcomes crowd
- 6:15 p.m. – Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive and tree is lit
- 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at I’m An Artist Community Studio
- 8 p.m. – Last carriage ride and DJ spins last song
“We look forward to putting together this event every year and are excited to see friends, neighbors and families gather for this festive celebration,” Gaslight Village Business Association Co-president BreAnna Jauregui said. “Now with our new social district, the Village offers community members a great place to shop, dine, gather and support local businesses.”
The new social district enables individuals 21 and older to consume alcoholic beverages sold by qualified Gaslight Village establishments within a designated social zone. For more information about the East Grand Rapids social district, visit eastgr.org.