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Hometown Holidays will return to downtown Redwood City on Saturday, Dec. 13, bringing a full day of holiday programming, live performances, a parade with a new route and the city’s annual tree lighting.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to about 6 p.m. in and around Courthouse Square and is hosted by Redwood City Events in partnership with the Redwood City Parks & Arts Foundation, with support from Sound Union, PremierOne Credit Union and the San Mateo County History Museum.
Organizers say this year’s celebration includes expanded festival areas, more food and craft vendors and an upgraded Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village will feature hot drinks, cookie decorating, arts and crafts, letters to the North Pole, a festive photo booth and holiday storytime led by one of Santa’s helpers.
Holiday storytime is scheduled for 10:40 a.m., 11:10 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.
Photos with Santa will be available in the rotunda of the San Mateo County History Museum from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The streets surrounding Courthouse Square will be filled with food vendors, craft sellers and community groups throughout the day. Carnival rides and live performances are also scheduled, beginning at 10 a.m. with the Sequoia High School Chorus and Orchestra.
Other performances include Better Together Dance Theatre, Dance Expressions, California Kung Fu & Tai Chi, Studio S, and multiple Woodside High School music groups. Sound Union’s Holiday Band is scheduled to perform at 3 p.m., followed by a new holiday singalong at 5:25 p.m.
The annual parade will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and will follow a new route this year. The parade will begin at the intersection of Marshall Street and Winslow Street, continue down Marshall Street and turn up Jefferson Avenue. Organizers said the new route allows for larger floats and additional features.
As part of the parade, Showing Up for Racial Injustice Redwood City has been invited to march alongside the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum. Participants are asked to gather at the Black History Museum at 3 p.m.
The Caltrain Holiday Train will pass through Redwood City during the event, arriving on the northbound platform at 3:21 p.m. and the southbound platform at 5:22 p.m. Boarding is limited to select stations and the train is already full for riders.
The day will conclude with Redwood City’s traditional tree lighting at 6 p.m.
Hometown Holidays is free and open to the public.
