A Celebration of Community, Tradition, and Festive Cheer
(OKLAHOMA CITY) – The Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival presented by Global Payments will return on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Bricktown as the official kickoff of Downtown in December presented by Devon. This free community event invites the public to join Mayor David Holt for a family-friendly evening of holiday festivities including diverse performances highlighting Oklahoma City’s many cultures and traditions.
Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival, now in its 24th year, will take place in Bricktown on the Mickey Mantle Plaza of the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The main attraction of the evening is the countdown to the lighting of the Bricktown Christmas Tree powered by OG&E by Mayor Holt followed by a showcase of diverse holiday and cultural performances on the main stage on Mickey Mantle Dr.
“I invite all residents to join us in Bricktown for this special Oklahoma City holiday tradition! This event always brings us together as a community, highlights our city’s talent and diversity, and kicks off a season of downtown holiday celebrations that rivals any American city,” said Mayor David Holt. “We once looked at old pictures of bustling holidays in downtown OKC and wondered what that would be like. Now, those days have returned, and the holiday energy downtown is vibrant all the way into January. Come down and enjoy the decorations, shopping, dining and activities all season long, but start your revels with the lighting of our tree on Nov. 13th!”
The Bricktown Christmas Tree will be lit at approximately 6 p.m., and performances will continue until 7:30 p.m. with Kayla Williams as emcee and music from the Ckai Dawson and the Experience for the evening’s lineup. Fan favorites such as Oklahoma City Ballet, Jabee, Hưng Việt Drum Show and Lion Dancers, Cindy Scarberry, Sainrithya Dance Academy, Ballet Folklorico Yetzali, RACE Dance Collective, and Lyric Theatre Academy students are returning, in addition to new performances by Capitol Hill Middle School Choir, Lucas Ross, and more.
The event will feature a variety of free activities, including Photos with Santa provided by Inasmuch Foundation, an interactive balloon snow globe, an aerialist performer, and activities including face painting, balloon art, and caricatures. Families are invited to the Letters to Santa station sponsored by Communication Federal Credit Union, where children can write letters to Santa, drop them in the North Pole mailbox, and decorate downtown-themed holiday postcards to take home or mail. Additional family-friendly programming includes ornament-making station, appearances by the Oklahoma City Thunder entertainers and the Thunder Bolt Bus.
Attendees can sample complimentary treats from downtown businesses, including Brickopolis, Bricktown Brewery, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Harkins Theatre, The Melting Pot, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, Rodizio Grill and Spark, with new additions this year from Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, McNellie’s, Tiff’s Treats and The Old Spaghetti Factory.
Items available for purchase include hot chocolate and coffee from Junction Coffee, as well as glow accessories and wrapping paper from The Curbside Chronicle. The Bricktown Christmas Tree will remain on display through New Year’s Day.
Additional support for the Bricktown Christmas Tree and the Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival provided by Global Payments, Toucan Productions, Bricktown, OG&E, Communication Federal Credit Union, Inasmuch Foundation, OKC Thunder, Bank of Oklahoma, Centennial Landscaping, Gipson Design, MidFirst Bank, Paycom Center, TTCU Federal Credit Union, OKC Comets, Painted Door Gift Boutique, and Arts Council OKC Art Moves. For more information, visit DowntownInDecember.com.