Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony

Santa's House

Partnership with the Chandler Lions Club

• Did you hear that Santa Claus is coming to Chandler?
• You can meet him and get your picture taken with him for free!
• Santa's House will be CLOSED from 6:30 - 8 p.m. while Santa is in the Parade of Lights

Letters to Santa

Need to get your letter to Santa? The Tumbleweed Tree Lighting has a direct line to the jolly man himself. Kids of all ages can decorate and write wish lists. Remember he’s checking his list twice, so you’ll want to highlight how you’ve been nice! Letters can be mailed by placing them in Santa's mailbox.

Inflatable Bouncer Area

Play your way through giant inflatables that bounce, bump and slide you all over the place. Attractions are provided by AZ Inflatable Events. Attractions will require 3-5 tickets. Individual tickets are available for $1 per ticket. Unlimited wristbands $20 each.

Guests attending the event are strongly encouraged to carpool and arrive early to find parking. There are several locations to park throughout the Downtown area. Please visit the parade overview map to see these exact locations. Suggested routes to access each parking site is also listed.
 

Parking Locations

• P1 - Overstreet Parking Garage
  Enter Structure from Chandler Boulevard and California Street to Buffalo Street
• P2 – Street Parking
  Parking Lot accessible from Boston Street and San Marcos Place via Dakota Street
  **San Marcos Place (between Buffalo St. & Commonwealth Ave.) will be closed from 2 - 10 p.m.**
• P3 – Oregon Street Parking Garage
  Parking Garage accessible from either California Street, Oregon Street, or Chicago Street.
• P6 - City Hall Parking Garage
  Enter Structure from Frye Road and Washington Street
• P7 – San Tan Regional Court Surface Parking Lot
  Enter lot from Dakota and Chicago streets
• P8 – San Tan Regional Court Surface Parking Lot
  Enter lot from Frye Road
• P9 – City Surface Parking Lot
  Enter lot from Dakota and Chicago streets
• P10 – City Police Department Surface Parking Lot
  Enter lot from Dakota and Chicago streets
• P11 - Alexander Parking Structure
  Enter Structure from Chandler Boulevard to Delaware Street and Boston Street
• P12 - Downtown Library Parking Lots
  Enter Lot from Chandler Boulevard to Delaware Street and Boston Street
• P13 - Jonathon Parking Structure
  Enter Structure from Chandler Boulevard and either Washington Street or Colorado Street
• P14 - Site 7
  Enter Lot from East Bound Chandler Boulevard and Washington Street, make right into the lot

Supplemental Parking Locations

Additional parking may be available in these locations. Please follow all traffic laws when crossing all streets to get to the event area.

• Folley Park - Map
  • *Enter from McQueen Road and Frye Road or Pecos Road and Hamilton Street.
     

Please Be Aware of the Following Closures:

• 2-8:30 p.m. Arizona Avenue closed between Frye and Pecos roads
• 6-8:30 p.m. Frye Road restricted from Washington Street to California Street
• 2-10 p.m. Arizona Avenue closed between Chandler Boulevard and Frye Road
• 6-9 p.m. Chandler Boulevard restricted from Delaware Street to California Street
• 6-9:30 p.m. Arizona Avenue closed between Galveston Street and Chandler Boulevard

The holiday spectacular kicks off at 4:30 p.m. 

4:40 - 5 p.m.          TBD
5:10 - 5:30 p.m.     TBD
5:40 - 6 p.m.          TBD

Tumbleweed Tree Lighting is seeking vendors to participate in this year's event. Interested vendors must apply either online or by mail to the City of Chandler. 

Vendor Application Deadlines and General Information

• Vendor Application will open August 14, 2023.
• The 2022 Vendor Priority Application deadline is Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.
• The general vendor application deadline is Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, or when all space has been reserved.
• If you are a new organization applying to participate in the event, your application will be accepted on a first come first serve basis once the priority deadline has expired. You are encouraged to apply prior to the 2022 vendor priority deadline and applications will be held in the order they are received.

Submit 2023 Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Application

1. Vendor Information Sheet
2. Application

For questions, please email Special Events or call 480-782-2669.

Are you interested in volunteering? We have a great opportunity for anyone who needs community service hours or just wants to help out a great event. Volunteer opportunities range from setting up, parade banner holders, activity booths, or helping guests with event information. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please email Special Events.

A Community Tradition

This unique Chandler tradition began in 1957, when Chandler resident Earl Barnum raised the idea of a tumbleweed tree after he saw a similar one in Indiana built out of cone-shaped chicken wire with pine boughs stuck in the holes. Many members of the community helped create the first tree in Chandler using tumbleweeds that they gathered from around town. Little did these folks know that they were the first to do such a thing and that it would continue as an annual Christmas tradition from then on. In fact, Chandler is the only city in the southwestern United States that has such a tree.

How is It Done?

First, members of the City's Park Operations Division gather tumbleweeds from the outskirts of the City. With Chandler's rapid growth and development, fewer stretches of empty land are within the City limits, which makes it harder to find tumbleweeds in large quantities. So, the Park crews must start collecting the tumbleweeds earlier each year. Nearly 1,000 tumbling tumbleweeds are collected each year and are used to adorn a 25-foot tall wireframe.

Then, the tumbleweeds are sprayed with 25 gallons of white paint, 20 gallons of flame retardant and dusted with 65 pounds of glitter. The tree is later adorned with approximately 1,200-holiday lights that give it a spectacular look, day or night. The lighting of the Tumbleweed Tree draws a large crowd, with more than 12,000 expected to watch the Mayor and members of the City Council flip the switch to light this magnificent sight. The Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Parade of Lights (starting at 7 p.m.) help to bring our community together to kick off the holidays.