Light Up Dpwntown Festivities
The Downtown Traverse City Association (DTCA) is expanding its cherished holiday kickoff into a two-day community celebration called “Light Up Downtown.” The 2026 holiday weekend will feature the Traverse City Tree Lighting on Friday, November 20, followed by the Traverse City Light Parade on Saturday, November 21.
What began years ago as a cozy downtown tree lighting has grown into a regional landmark event, drawing crowds of nearly 20,000 people to Front Street for the holiday festivities. To ensure a safe, sustainable, and enjoyable experience for all ages, the DTCA is dividing the activities into two evenings while partnering with the Festival Foundation (producers of the National Cherry Festival) to manage the Traverse City Light Parade.
"Our holiday events have grown beyond what a single evening can comfortably hold," said Karen Roofe, DTCA Board President. "Splitting the festivities across two nights gives our community more room to celebrate, eases crowd congestion, and allows us to elevate the experiences for families, local businesses, and visitors alike."
*Times are not yet fully determined. Please double-check on our website or social pages.*
The two-day event, Light Up Downtown, features:
Friday, November 20 – Traverse City Tree Lighting: Festivities begin early evening with event activations like community sing-alongs, treat stations, merchant open houses & events, Santa’s official arrival, and the lighting of the downtown holiday tree at Cass and Front Streets. Visits at Santa’s House will open immediately following the ceremony.
Saturday, November 21 – Traverse City Light Parade: Produced in partnership with the Festival Foundation, Front Street will light up as local nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and commercial businesses present custom floats, musical acts, and festive vehicles lighting up the heart of downtown.
"Partnering with the Festival Foundation brings world-class parade operations and production expertise to Front Street," shared Sara Klebba, DDA Director of Events & Engagement. "We’re owning our respective lanes to deliver a seamless, safe, magical weekend for everyone.”
"Connecting with the DTCA on the Light Parade is a wonderful extension of our ongoing work together, from the National Cherry Festival Arts & Crafts Fair to past Light Parade activations," said Alexis Bremer, Business Operations Director of the Festival Foundation. "We’re proud to pool our operational strengths to help turn this holiday kickoff into a memorable two-day celebration."
For parade application details, event schedules, and volunteer opportunities, visit downtowntc.com. Subscribe to the Downtown Newsletter online or follow @downtown_tc on social channels for continued updates.