Come to Historic Downtown Chandler on Saturday, December 6, 2008, as the community kicks off the holiday season with a series of festive events, including a colorful parade and the lighting of the renowned Tumbleweed Tree.
The 19th annual Parade of Lights and the 52nd annual Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony will attract thousands of Chandler residents and holiday revelers from other East Valley communities to Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. The begin at 4:30 p.m., with music, entertainment, food and beverage vendors, arts and crafts, and plenty of family fun. The events are free, however, there are some minimal charges for food, beverages, and some kids interactive amusements.
Next to the Tumbleweed Tree you will find Santa’s House, where kids can get their picture taken with the jolly old elf.
The annual Parade of Lights begins at 7 p.m., and features families, local school groups, marching bands, civic and neighborhood organizations, churches, dance troupes, and businesses – all enthusiastically decorated to light up the night.
The parade route passes through the historic downtown. It begins at the corner of Arizona Ave. and Chicago St., then moves north ¼-mile on Arizona Ave. to Buffalo St. The route then turns east on Buffalo St. for a short distance, then turns to the south onto Arizona Pl. After moving along the east side of Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, the parade will end at the corner of Boston St. and Arizona Place.
Immediately after the Parade of Lights, Mayor Boyd W. Dunn and members of the City Council will greet Santa and flip the power switch to light up the Tumbleweed Tree.
This uniquely southwestern tradition began in 1957, when Chandler resident Earl Barnum raised the idea of creating a tumbleweed tree for the holidays, after he saw a similar one in Indiana built out of cone-shaped chicken wire with pine boughs stuck in the holes.
Chandler Parks Division employees build the 35-foot tall tree by using nearly 1,500 tumbleweeds to adorn a wire frame. Then, the tumbleweeds are splashed with 25 gallons of paint, 20 gallons of flame retardant and decorated with 65 pounds of glitter. The tree is later adorned with approximately 1,200 lights that give it a spectacular look, day or night.
More information on parking in the downtown area, and the schedule of activities is available online at www.chandleraz.gov/special-events or you can call the City’s Special Event Hotline at (480) 782-2735.
The Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights is presented by the City of Chandler, Downtown Chandler Community Partnership, A 2 Z Trophies, Chandler Lions Club, The Chandler Republic, and the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort.
MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Folklorio
5:00 – 5:20 p.m. Class Act Performing Arts
5:30 – 5:50 p.m. Arizona Dancer’s Academy
6:00 – 6:20 p.m. The Next Step Dance Studio
8:15 – 8:30 p.m. (approximate time) TBD
8:40 – 9:00 p.m. Dance Connection Too!