[People gathered around the Christmass tree at Sunnyvale. Photo Credit: Yujun Lee]

Thousands gather in Downtown Sunnyvale for the city’s 25th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration, which took place Saturday evening on Historic Murphy Avenue. 

The two-and-a-half-hour festivities commenced at 5 p.m., drawing what Mayor Larry Klein described as “the largest crowd in years.”

The celebration, which has become a cherished local tradition, featured performances by local youth groups and concluded with the ceremonial illumination of the holiday tree.

The event highlights the city’s commitment to fostering community spirit during the holiday season. 

The custom of lighting a tree for Christmas dates back to Germany in the 1600s when celebrants placed candles in trees.

German immigrants later brought this custom to America, where it evolved dramatically with the advent of technology

Edward H. Johnson, a colleague of Thomas Edison, revolutionized the practice in 1882 by creating the first electrically illuminated Christmas tree, which earned him the title “father of electric Christmas tree lights.” 

The practice rose to national prominence in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge presided over the first National Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony in Washington D.C.’s Ellipse.

This historic moment established a presidential tradition that continues to this day.

This inspired communities across the nation to initiate their own celebrations including Sunnyvale’s now-beloved annual event.

This year’s celebration consisted of performances by local groups, speeches of city officials, the arrival of Santa Claus and the tree lighting.

The performance began with youth dancers of Dance Attack, a local dance group.

The dancers danced to different songs, ranging from Christmas songs and contemporary pop music.

The musical portion of the evening continued with choir performances from four local schools:  Columbia Middle School, Sunnyvale Middle School, Fremont High School, and Homestead High School.

The choral performances reached their finale with a joint performance of Christmas carols.

The evening reached its pinnacle with Santa Claus’s dramatic arrival aboard a Sunnyvale Fire Engine.

In a moment that delighted the assembled crowd, city officials joined Santa in illuminating the tree, signaling the official start of Sunnyvale’s holiday season.

Mayor Klein, who participated in the ceremony, later shared his enthusiasm on Instagram, noting the exceptional turnout and praising the community’s engagement with the dancing, singing, and Santa’s unique mode of transportation.