November 26, 2022
The annual Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony is a heart-warming way to kick-off the holiday season. Come for the treats, singing carols and a magical visit from Santa. In the spirit of giving and community, check out the organizations gathering supplies and bring donations to support them!
Click on the tabs below for more information about the event.
| SCHEDULE | TIME |
|---|---|
| Treats, Beverages and Donation Drives at Centennial Plaza | 3:00 PM |
| Program begins, Santa to follow | 4:00 PM |
| Program ends | 5:00 PM |
| The Masonic Center at the Old Opera House (515 Dayton St.) hosts an “after party”
with more treats and photos with Santa |
5:15 PM – 7:00 PM |
Q: Where is the Edmonds Tree Lighting Event?
A: Centennial Plaza – 5th Ave. N. & Bell St. in Edmonds.
Q: Which streets are closed and what time are they closed?
A: 12:00pm – 7:00pm. See map below for closed streets and location of event.
Q: Does it cost anything?
A: No, the event is open to all at no cost. Donations are welcome to help cover the cost of producing the event.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: A little rain has never stopped Santa! The show will go on – make sure to dress accordingly.
Tree Lighting Emcee: Richard Taylor Jr.
North Sound Singers & Mosaic Choir
Seattle Children’s Chorus
Maplewood Jazz Band
Non-profit organizations will be present collecting items and cash donations for the populations they serve. Bring new items and cash to support your community!
- Cordless outdoor lighting for distribution days that are in the dark this time of year
- Volunteer hours
- Pet food
- Aluminum pans
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially: Plantains, Sweet potatoes, Cabbage, Squash
- Whole turkeys, Whole chicken, Ham
- Canned and shelf-stable food items:
- Holiday must-haves like Cranberry, Pumpkin, Stuffing, Green Beans, Hot Chocolate
- Winter coats – youth sizes medium, large, XL
- Boys pants – youth sizes 6 through 16
- Athletic shoes – youth size 2 through teen
- Underwear – all sizes (but especially youth large and adult/teen)
Check back closer to the event for the full list of organizations and what items they need.
Be part of the magic!
Sponsors of this event are associated with community togetherness, nonprofit giving, familial well-being, creating childhood memories, nostalgia. Interested industries may include health/wellness, retail, child-centered businesses, banking, lighting, music and more.
Who attends: Families (parents, grandparents, caregivers) with their kiddos, retired residents of Edmonds. People who celebrate holidays. Families thinking of upcoming holidays (food, shopping, financial costs).
More information about sponsorship opportunities can be found here, or by reaching out to Erica Sugg: erica@edmondswa.com
Deadline to get your logo on the event poster is Thursday, Nov. 3 at noon. Must be registered and confirmed by Chamber staff.
Sponsorships still gratefully accepted through Nov. 18th, your logo will just not be present on poster.
Need to know before dropping off a letter:
- Return address must be legible on the child’s letter to receive a response.
- Child’s name needs to be clearly printed or it will be addressed to “my dear friend”.
- Return times may vary – even by household. The volunteer elves try to respond in the order they come in, but the elves work at different paces as their own lives allow. PLEASE BE PATIENT.
- To get a child’s original letter back: include a stamped envelope with return address and a note requesting it back.
- Please note: the elves do not address a child’s gift request to respect caregiver’s choices and financial situations.
- Each elf creates a few original story templates for reply letters to get through the hundreds received. For more personalized responses kiddos can ask questions, or a caregiver can sneak in a note about what the child has done that year.
- PLEASE BE PATIENT AND PRACTICE KINDNESS: this is run entirely by volunteers who put their love and free time into making it happen. They do not get paid and do it for the love of Christmas and delight.
- The elves love seeing reaction photos/videos! When they are hundreds of letters deep it helps keep the magic alive for them too! These can be sent to ryan@edmondswa.com
- This is the ONLY mailbox run by the Chamber. There may be others around town, but they are not associated with the Chamber.
WHERE: 5th Ave N. & Bell St. In front of the Log Cabin Visitor’s Center in Downtown Edmonds.
DEADLINE to drop off a letter and receive a response is Friday, Dec. 16th
SEEKING volunteer elves! Demand for this program grows every year, and Santa needs help! Learn more and sign up here.
VOLUNTEER
Help ensure the event runs smoothly and that everyone who wants a treat gets one! Sign up here.
Be an elf for the Letters to Santa program! Learn more here.
Gallery
Event Sponsors
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
To inquire about event sponsorships and premium memberships, please contact Ryan Crowther. You can also find more information about premium memberships here.