The City of Piedmont and the Piedmont Beautification Foundation invite community members to kick off the holiday season on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Lights Up Piedmont! in front of Piedmont Community Hall.
Enjoy hot cider with the Piedmont Girl Scouts donated by Piedmont Grocery and hot cocoa donated by Heafey Baum Real Estate Group.
Now in its second year under this name, Lights Up Piedmont! expands and evolves Piedmont’s beloved holiday tree lighting ceremony, which dates back to 1969. For thousands of years, the Winter Solstice and festivals of light have been celebrated all over the world from Newgrange Ireland 3200 B.C., to Iran’s Yalda Festival, to China’s Dongzhi festival, to First Fruit and Kwanzaa, to Jewish Hannukah to Scandinavian Yule and India’s Diwali, just to name a few. It’s the season to reflect on Peace, Health and Community.
Longstanding traditions including the illumination of the 80-foot redwood tree and a cappella serenades by Piedmont High School’s Troubadours are joined by other traditions. In the depths of winter, celebrations centered around light are common to cultures across the globe. Building on this theme, Lights Up! features expanded lighting around Piedmont Park, the lighting of a menorah concurrently with the tree, and inclusive, seasonal activities for all ages coordinated by the Piedmont Recreation Department. RAIN or SHINE.
Piedmont Troubadours singing carols on the steps of the plaza. 
Santa and a helper prepare for the visitors inside the Community Hall in 2022
Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area will provide a recipient to flip the switch for the lights. There will be apple cider, hot cocoa, and latkes to keep attendees warm. Per tradition, Santa Claus will be available for photos inside Community Hall, and children are invited to write letters to Santa and deposit them in a special mailbox addressed to North Pole. Santa will read every letter.
Lights Up! will take place rain or shine.
About the Piedmont Beautification Foundation
The Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) obtains, maintains, installs, and removes the colorful LED lights that adorn the illuminated tree each year. Throughout the year, PBF partners with the City to provide research and funding for projects that increase safety, beauty, and function of Piedmont’s extensive and unique public facilities.
Community members can support these efforts by donating HERE or by mailing a check to Piedmont Beautification Foundation, City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA, 94611.
A donation to PBF this time of year provides an opportunity to extend warm wishes to friends and neighbors as part of the group’s Annual Holiday Greeting Campaign by way of names of donors being listed in the Piedmont Post and the Piedmont Exedra.
For questions regarding Lights Up! or Piedmont Beautification Foundation’s work, contact Barbara Love at (510) 282-5618 or blovegustke@gmail.com.