OKC Tree Lighting Festival Kicks Off Downtown Holiday Season

Downtown Oklahoma City Prepares for 25th Annual Tree Lighting

The holiday season in Oklahoma City officially begins next week as the city prepares for its 25th annual Tree Lighting in Bricktown. Scheduled for Thursday, November 12, the event serves as the public launch for the “Downtown in December” series, a multi-week celebration presented by Devon Energy. According to reporting from News 9, organizers are expecting to build on last year’s attendance, which drew more than 3,000 residents to the downtown core.

Downtown Oklahoma City celebrates 25th annual Tree Lighting to kick off holiday season pic.twitter.com/GzTRBA21T6

— https://x.com/NEWS9/status/2119127797645853049

The festival runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the primary tree lighting ceremony set for 6:00 p.m. Mayor David Holt will lead the lighting of the tree, which is presented by OG&E. Phi Nguyen, representing the event organizers, noted that the festival has expanded its footprint this year to include “Restaurant Row,” a new initiative where local businesses from the Bricktown and downtown districts offer food samples to attendees.

The event is designed to be fully accessible, with all scheduled activities offered free of charge. Families can expect a variety of performances, including appearances by the Oklahoma City Ballet and local Lion Dancers. Danielle Dodson, also speaking with News 9, confirmed that Rumble the Bison will assist the mayor during the tree lighting ceremony. Additional amenities include free photos with Santa and onsite refreshments provided by Junction Coffee.

Managing the Economic Impact of Holiday Programming

While the Tree Lighting serves as a community gathering, it also functions as a critical economic engine for the city’s hospitality and retail sectors. By centralizing holiday foot traffic in Bricktown, the city aims to drive revenue toward local restaurants and shops that rely on seasonal activity. For small business owners in the downtown corridor, the influx of 3,000-plus visitors represents a significant opportunity to counteract the typical post-summer lull in downtown revenue.

However, the concentration of events in a single district can present logistical challenges. Critics of hyper-localized event planning often point to the strain on parking infrastructure and the potential for crowding in smaller business districts. Despite these concerns, the “Downtown in December” model has remained a staple of city planning for over two decades, utilizing public-private partnerships—such as those with Global Payments and OG&E—to offset the costs of large-scale public entertainment.

For those planning to attend, organizers emphasize that the evening concludes with a staged snowfall immediately following the tree lighting. Residents looking for additional information on the full schedule of events can visit the Downtown OKC or Downtown in December official websites.