Phoenix suburb to continue holiday tradition with Tumbleweed Tree lighting
Nov 30, 2016, 4:01 PM | Updated: Dec 1, 2016, 11:19 am
(City of Chandler Photo)
PHOENIX — The city of Chandler will continue its holiday tradition on Saturday with the 20th annual Parade of Lights, followed by the 60th annual Tumbleweed Tree lighting.
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny, along with 12,000 more attendees, are expected to help officially welcome in the 2016 holiday season to downtown Chandler.
Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. in Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, including a performance by the Chandler Symphony Orchestra Quintet and a visit from Santa Claus.
The Parade of Lights will start at 7 p.m., and is set to run along Arizona Avenue, which will be closed to traffic from 3 – 10 p.m. due to the celebration. The Tumbleweed Tree lighting will begin after the conclusion of the parade at approximately 8 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early to find parking.
Park crews began collecting tumbleweeds in early October for the tree, which will shine with approximately 1,200 LED lights when Tibshraeny flips the switch Saturday night. Chandler is the only city in the southwestern United States with such a tree.
It consists over more than 1,000 tumbleweeds that have been gathered, painted, glittered and prayed with flame retardant.
For more information on Chandler’s holiday celebration, including a complete schedule of the entertainment, visit its information page here.