We welcome interest from local schools, non-profits, community groups, performers, artists, small businesses, and neighbors. The Tree Lighting is a community celebration, and we love hearing from everyone who wants to be involved.

There are many ways to join in:

• Host a booth or activity in the holiday market with your non-profit
• Perform on stage
• Volunteer during the event
• Sponsor the festival
• Donate or gift a raffle item
• Join the Tree Lighting Committee.

A volunteer committee selects participants based on community connection, variety, balance, and logistics. We work to include both returning favorites and new voices so the event stays fresh and representative of our neighborhood.

No. We rotate opportunities from year to year so more of the community has a chance to participate.

To keep the event welcoming for all ages:

• Music must be family-friendly with no explicit language
• No worship content, prayers, or references to any god or religious practice
• Costumes should be appropriate for all ages and for cool evening weather
• Cultural attire is welcome, but no national flags or religious symbols

Yes. Committee members work with the non-profit board during October and November to plan the event. Meetings are held weekly in the evenings, and members help on the day of the festival. The board selects a balanced group of new voices and long-time community members each year.

We are launching a general interest form on our website shortly where performers, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, and committee members can sign up year-round. Meantime, email us at hello@atwatervillageevents.org

Local food vendors are welcome to apply through our general interest form. Vendors are selected based on variety, local connection, and available space. All food vendors must meet City and County health requirements, carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance, and pay a small participation fee (often a percentage of sales).

We love celebrating the many cultures in our community through food — bring on the tamales, latkes, Christmas cookies, empanadas, sufganiyot, jollof rice, lumpia, and all the winter holiday treats that make this season special.

We receive more requests than we can fit. Not being selected one year does not mean you are not valued. We do our best to rotate opportunities and create a balanced program. Please reach out again the following year!

To bring the neighborhood together for a joyful, festive, and community-driven celebration of the season.

Because the Tree Lighting is a permitted public, community event, we keep the program and shared spaces secular. We’re not able to include religious songs, prayers, or faith-specific symbols from any tradition on the public stage or in common areas. This applies equally to all groups, including churches, temples, and other faith-based organizations. Performers are welcome to participate with winter- or holiday-themed pieces that fit within this framework. If you’re unsure whether your performance would meet these guidelines, please feel free to reach out before submitting.

The Tree Lighting has had several stewards over its 35-year history. It was originally supported by Council District 1, later organized by neighborhood volunteers, then by the Chamber of Commerce, and for many years by the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council. As the event has grown into a large, permitted street festival, it is now produced by Atwater Village Events, a nonprofit organization that serves as the current steward of the tradition. While we continue to partner with longtime community supporters, the event is volunteer-run and not a City-hosted program.