Stockton families can start December with an afternoon by the water and stay to watch downtown light up. The City of Stockton’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony returns to Weber Point Events Center on Saturday, December 5, with a free celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. and the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.
Artificial snowfall, cookies and hot chocolate, live performances, holiday shopping and local food vendors are part of the announced festivities. The setting gives families a chance to make an outing of the occasion: arrive during the afternoon, explore the booths and entertainment, then gather for the evening’s centerpiece.
For businesses and community organizations, there is an earlier date to circle. The City is accepting vendor applications through Wednesday, November 18, at 4 p.m., with limited space available.
An Afternoon That Builds Toward the Lights
The celebration takes place at 221 N. Center Street, placing the holiday gathering on Stockton’s downtown waterfront. Its four-hour schedule leaves room for families to choose how much of the afternoon and evening works for them, whether that means an early visit with young children or staying through the tree lighting and the boats that follow.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public. The announced lineup combines entertainment and seasonal treats with opportunities to browse local merchants. Families planning to shop or purchase food should budget separately for those purchases.
The snowfall is artificial, adding a winter touch to the outdoor celebration. The City encourages visitors to bundle up and bring blankets. Comfortable shoes and layers are sensible choices for an outing that begins in the afternoon and continues after dark.
A Second Holiday Tradition on the Water
The tree lighting is followed by another reason to linger downtown: the Lynn Hahn Memorial Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade. The City’s current tree-lighting information lists the parade around 6:30 p.m.
That is an approximate arrival time, so families hoping to see the boats should allow some flexibility. The tree ceremony and waterfront viewing can be part of the same evening, with time between them to enjoy the gathering. Check the City’s event page again before leaving home for the latest information.
The pairing brings together two sides of a Stockton holiday outing: neighbors gathering on land and decorated boats carrying the celebration onto the water. For children, it offers a change of scene after the tree lighting; for adults, it is an opportunity to enjoy the waterfront as part of a shared community tradition.
Local Vendors and Community Groups Have a Place
The City’s call for participants includes food vendors, merchants and informational booths. That creates an opening for local businesses to introduce shoppers to their products and for organizations to connect residents with their programs.
Applicants should complete the Special Event Vendor Form linked on the City’s official tree-lighting page. The City lists a $50 vendor fee for vendors selling food, beverages or merchandise, along with a current City of Stockton business license and the completed form. Payment and required documents must be received by the deadline.
Forms may be returned to the City’s special-events email address or to the Special Events office at New City Hall, 501 W. Weber Avenue, Building 2, first floor. Informational-booth applicants should contact the office about the requirements that apply to their participation.
Plan a Comfortable Family Visit
Keep the 5:30 p.m. ceremony in mind when deciding when to arrive, and allow time to park and walk to Weber Point. The City’s event page includes sections for parking information, prohibited items, the schedule and an event map. Review those resources as the date approaches rather than assuming arrangements will match a previous year.
Parents may also want to choose a meeting spot before exploring the gathering. For questions about access, vendor participation or other event arrangements, the City Events office can provide information directly.
Event Details
- Event: City of Stockton Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Time: 3–7 p.m.; tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Weber Point Events Center, 221 N. Center Street, Stockton, CA 95202
- Admission: Free and open to the public; food and merchandise purchases are separate.
- Activities: Artificial snowfall, cookies and hot chocolate, live performances, holiday shopping and local food vendors.
- Related event: Lynn Hahn Memorial Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade, around 6:30 p.m. according to the City; arrival is approximate.
- Official website and vendor form: StocktonCA.gov/TreeLighting
- Vendor deadline: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 4 p.m. Spaces are limited. The City requires the completed form, applicable payment and required documents by the deadline; listed selling-vendor requirements include a $50 fee and current City business license.
- Contact: City of Stockton Events office, (209) 937-8119 or [email protected].
Whether the family tradition is a photograph near the tree, a warm drink together or waiting for the first illuminated boat, December 5 offers Stockton residents a free place to gather and welcome the holiday season along the waterfront.