On Saturday, Dec. 6, the town of San Anselmo hosted an annual holiday tree lighting ceremony. Organized by the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce and the Anselmo Recreation Department, the celebration included festive musical performances, seasonal food, children’s activities, and local shops featuring holiday gifts and decorations. The event began at 5 p.m. with the lighting of a 25-foot Christmas tree in Imagination Park.

The town closed San Anselmo Avenue for the event, allowing visitors to comfortably explore nearby shops, watch live music, and participate in holiday-themed activities such as crafts, games, and seasonal photos.

At 6 p.m., a group from Skylark Voice Studio performed holiday carols that filled the park with holiday cheer. Following the caroling, the White Hill Jazz Band performed at 6:30 p.m., keeping the festive spirit going. Liz Whitney, a vocal instructor, found the event to be an excellent start to the holidays. 

 “The [tree lighting] really kicks off the holiday season, and I love being a part of that. [Our performance] is really just about bringing music and art to the community,” Whitney said.

Sophomore Violet Garza found the experience to be inviting and friendly, and felt a strong sense of community.

“I would describe the atmosphere as very welcoming, and you could really feel the sense of community here. I especially enjoyed the band performances of festive Christmas songs and walking around to look at the shops,” Violet said.

The small holiday train, which traveled along San Anselmo Ave., was particularly appealing to attendees. The train guided families through the festive downtown and celebrated the local decor.

Jacquelyn Smith, the owner of the San Anselmo Rose flower shop, appreciated the sense of community at the tree lighting. During the event, Smith operated a wreath bar where visitors could make their own holiday decorations.

“I’m keeping the store open and running a wreath bar where people can decorate their own holiday wreaths. The tree lighting is also a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit and bring people downtown to mingle,” Smith said.  

As the celebration concluded, visitors finished touring downtown, exploring booths, and listening to the holiday music. The tree lighting united the San Anselmo community for a festive evening and a joyful start to the season, establishing a tradition attendees can look forward to each year.