Event Details
Community Tree Lighting
Friday, November 27, 2026
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Esther Short Park
605 Esther St. Vancouver WA
Join Vancouver Rotary Club for the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Festivities start at 3 p.m. in Esther Short Park with live music, carriage rides, holiday treats and more. Starting at 5 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their way to Vancouver, escorted by a flotilla of Columbia River Christmas ships and arrive in front of AC Marriott at 5:45 p.m. At 6 p.m., a parade of decorated vehicles will transport them to Esther Short Park, where everyone is invited to enjoy music, entertainment, family photos and refreshments along West Sixth Street.
The excitement peaks when the holiday tree is lit at 6:30 p.m. to officially ring in the holiday season. Music, photos and carriage rides will continue until 7 p.m. The warm glow of holiday lights will continue to fill Esther Short Park until New Year’s Day thanks to generous community sponsors.
Shop local
Want to fit in some holiday shopping? Explore local, handmade gifts at the Vancouver Holiday Market from 3 to 8 p.m. in the Hilton Hotel, hosted by Vancouver Farmers Market and take a short walk to Main Street to show our small businesses some love.
Parking
Explore on-street, public parking options on the Tree Lighting parking webpage.
Use ParkWhiz or SpotHero to find private parking options and prices across downtown. These apps allow you to pre-pay and reserve parking in advance. The City publicizes ParkWhiz and SpotHero so community members can easily compare parking options but does not manage or fund these services.