Auburn's virtual Christmas tree lighting to kick off holiday shopping

As Christmas draws near, decorations are lighting up Auburn with the holiday spirit. The traditional Christmas tree lighting will be held virtually this year. The tree lighting is usually a big event packing Central Square with a choir and Santa meeting with kids. However, in light of COVID-19 restrictions, the city wanted to find an alternate way for residents to celebrate the holiday safely, according to Mayor Daniel Berlant. "We wanted to have some form of celebration and didn't want to just flip the switch and not celebrate," Berlant said. City leaders gathered Monday evening donning face masks and Christmas sweaters to film the event. Santa made a grand entrance on a fire engine, escorted by the Auburn Police Department and trailed by the Auburn Fire Department, and kicked off the Christmas season by lighting the tree. Before returning to the North Pole, Santa spoke to kids who wanted to say hi after spotting him as they passed by Central Square. In addition to the video, Berlant said, decorations will adorn City Hall, businesses and the Clock Tower, fulfilling the goal to "create a vibrant downtown and Old Town" for the holidays. "The merchants, the business associations and the city have really tried to increase our decorations to not only celebrate the holidays but also attract people to support our businesses," he said. The Christmas tree lighting video will be released at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and kick off the late-night shopping hours on Saturdays leading up to Christmas, according to Berlant. Old Town and Downtown businesses will extend hours to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. "The virtual lighting will coincide with the actual first day of the tree being lit," Berlant said. "Instead of being a big in-person celebration, we welcome people to drive by and safely check out the tree and all our decorations throughout town. We have partnered with the merchants, as many of them are staying open late on Saturday so that residents and visitors can check out the tree, and stop and shop in their stores." Berlant said the city will host a Facebook watch party for the tree lighting ceremony on the Explore Auburn, CA - City of Auburn page, and on his page - Daniel Berlant, Auburn City Mayor - for residents who want to view the ceremony Friday. The video will also be posted to www.auburn.ca.gov and www.ExploreAuburnCA.com.