Aliso Viejo hosted a tree lighting ceremony at the Aliso Viejo Town Center for residents on Dec. 5, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. that included games, vendors and music.
The tree lighting festival lit up the massive Christmas tree over the fountain in Town Center. The tree sat atop a box that included decorative presents. At around 6 p.m., Santa arrived, escorted by elves and sirens, to help light the tree.
Once the tree was lit, the children played with fake “snow” made out of soapy bubbles that fell from the lamp posts. Around this time, the festival was packed with many children under the age of 10, along with parents and other adults.
Kylie Snyder (12) says, “I attended the event with my friends, and it was cool to see all the activities and things to do.”
Surrounding the fountain, there were many activities and crafts for children, including ornament and bracelet making. There was also a small train circulating the fountain for kids to ride. The fenced train would lap the fountain a couple of times before loading new participants.
Before the lighting occurred, there were many performances and guest speakers. The Aliso Niguel Dance and Choir Team both made appearances to showcase their abilities to the crowds. The city also introduced the new city manager, Mitzi Ortiz.
Farther away from the tree lighting, there were many photo opportunities. Elsa, with a backdrop and setup, offered free pictures to children. Kids were also able to take photos with Santa on a big red chair before the lighting began.
At the event, there were many free drinks and food samples handed out. Vendors from across Aliso Viejo attended and set up booths to advertise their businesses. Some gave out candy while others spoke with those passing by.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers handed out free lemonade or sweet tea to passersby. Volunteers for the city also handed out free hot chocolate to anyone attending the event.
Another performance included acrobats who set up on the street with an aerial ring that they hung from. The performers spun from the ring and dropped down with mats underneath them. Along the street, there were also drop boxes labeled “Letters to Santa” for children to use.
Surrounding areas experienced heavy traffic due to the high-volume event. The parking lots near the theater and Chipotle filled up quickly, since the event was popular. Many local businesses saw increased participation.
Ethan Coronado (11) says, “I went to the event with my family and it was fun, but there was a lot of traffic. I would most likely arrive earlier next year to avoid the parking lots.”
To make the event possible, many volunteers and local departments provided their help to the city. Many craft stations were run by those wearing red Santa hats, while police and other officials stood in the crowds to supervise the lighting. The police department shut down part of the parking lot to allow for vendors and performances to occur and make the annual Aliso Viejo Tree Ceremony lighting successful.
