Redwood City Transforms Into Winter Wonderland With Downtown Holiday Events

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Downtown Redwood City is officially transforming into a festive winter wonderland this season, complete with dazzling lights, joyful carolers and the much-anticipated return of the city's beloved Hometown Holidays celebration.

“Hometown Holidays is getting a big update this year. The City is officially taking over the event,” Brandon Council, the Recreation Program Coordinator at Redwood City Parks, Recreation, & Community Services, told Patch. “We will maintain much of what the community enjoys about Hometown Holidays while adding a bunch of new features. People can expect the same level of excellence from our Redwood City Events team that our community events are known for.”

The Redwood City Improvement Association (RCIA) kicked off the season on Dec. 1, with the debut of Downtown's holiday décor. Glittering lights, garlands, and festive banners are lighting up the neighborhood through the New Year, creating an ideal backdrop for shopping, strolling, and dining. A new, specially decorated holiday arch, located at the corner of Broadway and Hamilton, will also be unveiled on December 11, providing a perfect photo opportunity.

The community is invited to celebrate the official start of the holiday season at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by the RCIA and the City of Redwood City, the event will feature a special pre-lighting performance by The Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers. Attendance is free.

The sounds of the season will fill the streets as The Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers return. Dressed in Dickensian attire, these strolling singers will perform jolly harmonies and timeless holiday classics on multiple evenings:

• December 9: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• December 13: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• December 18: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• December 23: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. All caroling performances are free to attend.

The centerpiece of the month’s festivities is the 19th annual Hometown Holidays on Saturday, from 10a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The celebration transforms the neighborhood, featuring a spectacular holiday parade, live entertainment, carnival rides for all ages, and the chance for families to take photos with Santa Claus. The full-day event is free and promises joy and community spirit for all.

In partnership with Hometown Holidays, the San Mateo County History Museum, located at 2200 Broadway, will host an expanded day of free holiday celebrations on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

• 10:00 a.m.: "Tree Treasures," a hands-on craft activity where children can create Victorian-inspired ornaments.
• 1:00 p.m.: A complimentary performance by the Wandering Bow Band, featuring 19th-century music inside the museum's historic Courtroom A.

All are encouraged to attend these events and make the most of the festive season in Downtown Redwood City.

“Applications are closed for performers, parade, and festival booths but we encourage the community to come out and check out all the new features we have,” Council told Patch. “Our goal was to bring something new throughout each part of the day to liven up the event.”

If people would like to get involved they can register to volunteer at rwcpaf.org/volunteer