It’s almost that time of year! The City of Hilliard is gearing up for the 36th annual Hilliard Tree Lighting, to be held Downtown on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Festivities will run from 4-6:30 p.m. with activities in Hilliard’s Station Park, along Main Street, and at the Historical Village at Weaver Park. Bring family and friends to this open event and enjoy ice carving, stilt walkers, face painting, balloon twisting, horse and carriage rides, and much more! A full list of activities can be found below.
The evening will kick off with the Hilliard Youth Choir performing at 4 p.m. at Hilliard’s Station Park. They will be followed by vocal performances from Scioto Darby 1st Grade, Beacon Elementary Singers, Blue Kids on the Block Hilliard Davidson High School A Capella Choir, and the Hilliard Darby Polyphonix Choir, who will ring in the tree lighting from 5:50-6:15 p.m.
Alongside the lighting of the tree, the City will officially receive Ohio Magazine’s Best Hometown Award.
Free parking for the event will be available at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, the lot at Madison and Wayne streets, and the Makoy Center. Limited handicap parking will be available at the parking lot near Wayne and Center streets. Our free trolley will stop at the Chase Bank parking lot and the entrance to the Historical Village.
Necessary road closures will be in effect along Main Street from Franklin Street to Norwich Street; along Center Street from Wayne Street to Columbia Street; along Columbia Street from Franklin Street to Center Street; and along Franklin Street from Columbia Street to Main Street. Check out the interactive map for more information.
See below for a detailed look at the evening:
Choir schedule: (Hilliard’s Station Park)
- 4-4:15 p.m.: Hilliard Youth Choir
- 4:25-4:40 p.m.: Scioto Darby 1st Grade
- 4:50-5:05 p.m.: Beacon Elementary Singers
- 5:15-5:45 p.m.: Blue Kids on the Block Hilliard Davidson High School A Capella Choir
- 5:50-6:15 p.m.: Hilliard Darby Polyphonix Choir
- Encore: Hilliard Darby Polyphonix Choir
Downtown Hilliard (Hilliard’s Station Park)
- Santa and elves
- Ice carving
- Cooking station
- Face painting
- Amazing Giants
- Stilt walkers
- Holiday train
- Petting zoo
- Face painting
- Balloon twisting
- Trolley from Chase Parking Lot to Weaver Park
- Horse and carriage rides
- Fire juggler
- Strolling characters
- Carolers
- Hilliard City Schools choirs
- Hilliard Bradley and Darby ceramic mugs
- Tree lighting at 6:15 p.m.
Hilliard Historical Society (Village)
- Tours of the Historical Society
- Giant snow globe
- Face painting
- Letters to Santa and Mrs. Claus
- Balloon twisting
- DJ (2023)
- Trolley to Downtown Hilliard
- Live reindeer
- Inflatable gingerbread
- Amazing Giants swaypole
- *Lines for activities might close early due to high attendance
Head over to the Tree Lighting webpage for more information and to see some fun photos of the event!
We would also like to extend a big thank you to our sponsors for helping us make this event happen.
Credit Union of Ohio, Bone Dry Roofing, Westwood Collective, AWS, Painter & Associates, Renewal by Andersen, Franklin County Fairgrounds, Graeter’s, Destination Hilliard, Japanese Automotive, SMILE Doctors