Sundance Square will kick off the holidays with the lighting of the Sundance Square Christmas Tree on Saturday, November 22. Designed with the community in mind, the tree lighting will feature Santa Claus, musical and theatrical entertainment, as well as photo opportunities throughout the plaza.
“The 58-foot blue spruce tree we have chosen this year is stunning,” said Tracy Gilmour, marketing director for Sundance Square. “The tree will sit in the center of the plaza until New Year’s Day and will be decorated with thousands of lights and gorgeous trimmings. Celebrating the holidays in Sundance Square has always been a great tradition and this will be another great year with family and friends.”
The Sundance Square Christmas Tree will make its way from Everett, Michigan to Texas where it will arrive on November 17. The blue spruce tree will be decorated throughout the week with LED lights that are 100 percent offset with pollution-free Texas wind power from Sundance Square’s energy partner, Green Mountain Energy Company.
This is the fifth year that Sundance Square has committed to being “green” using LED lights and offsetting the emissions from the tree, which has the environmental impact of taking a car off the road for nearly 22,000 miles or the equivalent of a Texan driving to the North Pole and back three times.
Family-style festivities begin November 22 at 4 p.m. with choirs on the main stage, strolling entertainers, classic holiday characters, as well as new shops and restaurants to explore.
The tree lighting ceremony will begin shortly after 6:00 p.m. featuring Santa Claus, who will stay to greet children until 10:30 p.m.
Santa’s workshop will offer holiday photo opportunities for families. Three candy-theme sculpted elements are a great spot for children to explore and have a family photo taken as kids wait to see Santa Claus.
Holiday keepsake photos with Santa are only $10 each (cash only) with the proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund established by the Fort Worth Sister Cities’ Youth Scholarships. Santa will be in Sundance Square through December 23. Check www.sundancesquare.com for specific times.
Holiday fun will continue in Sundance Square with the opening of The Cheesecake Factory on December 9 at Commerce and 4th Streets. Sundance Square also recently announced Overland Sheepskin Company will be opening its first Texas store in time for the Christmas shopping season.
The 32 Annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights will step off at 6:00 pm on Friday, November 28 at Belknap and Throckmorton. Cowboy Santas volunteers will collect new, unwrapped toys along the parade route before the parade begins.
New Year’s Eve festivities in Sundance Square include Luke Wade, a current contender on NBC’s seventh season of The Voice, as the headliner with the Indie-Folk Americana Duo Dawn and Hawkes scheduled to open from the Plaza Stage beginning at 9:30 pm.
Sundance Square is a vibrant, award-winning entertainment district spanning 35 blocks in downtown Fort Worth. The multi-use development attracts more than 10 million visitors each year. The one-acre outdoor plaza, which opened in late 2013, features new restaurants, shops, water features, stage, four 32-foot umbrellas, and covered seating. For more information about Sundance Square, visit sundancesquare.com or follow the multi-use development on Facebook.com/sundancesquare or Twitter@sundancesquare.