How and where to celebrate the return of Stockton's tree lighting ceremony, boat parade

The annual city of Stockton tree lighting ceremony returns Saturday at Weber Point Events Center.

The tree lighting will be followed by the Lynn Hahn Memorial Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade.

Gates at Weber Point will open at 4 p.m. for visitors to enjoy live caroling, snowfall, free hot chocolate and more. There will also be vendors, food trucks and an opportunity to take a photo with Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus.

Visitors are encouraged to stick around after the 5:30 p.m. tree lighting to watch the lighted boat parade. The parade, sponsored by Roger Hahn and the Stockton Yacht Club, will be led by the Port of Stockton fireboat, Sunrise, and starts about 5 p.m. at Windmill Cove. It is expected to reach downtown Stockton and Weber Point at about 6:30 p.m.

In addition to the tree at Weber Point, the city will have several other downtown locations decorated for the holidays. There will be lights at the Weber Point Fountain, lighted trees in Martin Luther King Plaza, and festive wreaths and lights on City Hall, the Civic Auditorium and Cesar Chavez Central Library.

The Weber Point Fountain lights and water rhythms will dance to holiday music 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 3.

Last year there was no traditional tree-lighting ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tree, however, was lit up at night for passing pedestrians and motorists to enjoy.

This article originally appeared on The Record: When and how to see Stockton tree lighting, lighted boat parade