Light Up the Season community event returns Saturday, Dec. 7

Light Up the Season, the annual downtown Hayward winter-time celebration and tree lighting ceremony, is returning to the City Hall rotunda and plaza the afternoon and evening of Saturday, Dec. 7, with some new attractions.

This year, the City of Hayward partners with Hayward Chamber of Commerce to bring the Light Up the Season festivities to City Hall. Our goal is to create a space for Hayward residents to come together in a spirit of inclusion and share and celebrate the winter-time traditions of our diverse communities. These include Twin Luminaries, Mawlid al-Nabi, Chalica, Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Lohri, Pongal and other occasions sharing a common theme of remembering there is light even during the season of long nights.

Once again, the event will feature performances and offerings by community organizations, school groups and local businesses. New additions include a winter night market with more than 30 vendors serving sweet snacks, traditional foods and fun holiday gifts.

There also will be the traditional lighting of a seasonal tree and other decorations just after sundown at approximately 5 p.m. Curbie, the Hayward Public Library bookmobile, also will be in attendance.

If you have questions about Light Up the Season-or are interested in participating in this year's event or in future years-contact Zach Ebadi, of the Hayward City Manager's Office, at (510) 583-3911 or by email at [email protected].