Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
About
Ceremony Schedule
About
City of Graham Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026 (no rain date)
Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony: 6:30pm, fireworks will follow the lighting of the tree (rain/wind permitting)
For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: Front Lawn of the City of Graham Municipal Building (City Hall) • 201 South Main Street, Graham, NC 27253
Join the City of Graham for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting tradition at City Hall, including holiday fun, ice skating on synthetic ice, food trucks, a special visit from Santa, and FIREWORKS (tentative)!
This special tree that we light is a Norway Spruce tree. It came to us from Alamance County Cooperative Extension in the fall of 2012. When this tree needed to be removed from their property, the Cooperative Extension reached out to the City of Graham to be its new home. It was too large to dig up ourselves, so we brought in a 90” tree spade on a truck to move it for us. The tree now thrives at City Hall and is a part of our community’s tradition, decorated with over 3,000 lights. More Information About Graham’s Christmas Tree
Can’t attend? Watch the ceremony LIVE at 6:30pm at City of Graham YouTube
More Fun for the Evening…
• Alamance Arts will offer a shopping experience before the ceremony with a unique selection of original and handcrafted gifts by local, regional, and international artists. Take-and-make craft kits will also be available for the children (while supplies last). Open 2:00pm – 7:30pm on the day of the event.
• Alamance County Public Libraries will be reading during the ceremony and offering Take & Make crafts
• Ice Skating on Synthetic Ice at the Downtown Graham’s Ice Skating Rink
• Painted Grape will offer free face-painting (tentative)
• South Graham Elementary Inspirations Chorus singing during the ceremony
• Tree Lighting Ceremony with FIREWORKS (rain/wind permitting) (tentative)
• Violinists Sabrina Patel & Henry Sykes will be providing seasonal music throughout the event leading up to the ceremony
• Visit Santa Claus from 5:00pm – 6:30pm (Santa will then head over to the ceremony)!
2026 Food Trucks
• City of Graham Fire Explorers
• The Boardwalk Baker
Parking
Available at Alamance Arts & City Hall (back parking lot)
Where to Park Downtown
Where to Park Downtown
Inclement Weather Updates
We always try our best to have the event on the original date; however, we may need to change over to our inclement weather plan as late as the day of the event. When a decision is made, any changes in the schedule and/or cancellations will be posted on the Graham Recreation & Parks Facebook page. No rain date. Rain Plan: Move indoors to City Hall for the ceremony only, with friends and family of those in the ceremony (live-streamed on the City of Graham YouTube)
Stay Up To Date
Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on additions to the event and any inclement weather updates.
Questions? Please call Brandy McCandless, Marketing Supervisor, at (336) 513-5510.
Ceremony Schedule
Ceremony Schedule (tentative line-up)
Ceremony begins at 6:30pm
- Mayor Chelsea Dickey – Welcome
- Song – South Graham Elementary Inspirations Chorus
- Presentation of the Key to the City to the Grand Marshal
- Song – South Graham Elementary Inspirations Chorus
- Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest Winners Announced by the Appearance Commission
- Song – South Graham Elementary Inspirations Chorus
- Christmas Story for Children – Alamance County Public Libraries
- Song – South Graham Elementary Inspirations Chorus & City of Graham Fire and Police Departments
- Christmas Tree Lighting – Mayor & Santa
- Fireworks (background music by SOS Productions)
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