in partnership with Bank of America
Get ready to kick off the holiday season in true Philly style!
Join us on Thursday, December 4 at 6:00pm on the north side of City Hall (North Broad Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard) for one of Philadelphia’s most beloved holiday traditions – the City of Philadelphia’s Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration, produced by Welcome America, Inc. in partnership with the Office of the City Representative for the official lighting of the Philly Holiday Tree presented by VISIT PHILADELPHIA®, powered by NRG. The show will feature the dazzling lighting of the Philly Holiday Tree, a special performance from singer, songwriter, and actress GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Ashanti, with an additional performances by five-time GRAMMY® Award winner Lalah Hathaway and Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan!
Arrive early to soak up the festive cheer with pre-show performances by Lauren Talese, The Philadelphia Girls Choir and DJ Nico from iHeartRadio, plus free holiday giveaways you won’t want to miss, like light-up wands from Bank of America, iconic light-up Santa Hats from NRG, Free Hot Apple Cider courtesy of Linvilla Orchards from Wonder and Free Hot Chocolate from the Second Alarmers plus so much more from our wonderful sponsors.
Test your luck and take a spin on Philadelphia Zoo’s prize wheel featuring exclusive giveaways including Philadelphia Zoo tickets to LumiNature, passes to the new 110-foot Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel, holiday snow globes, and light-up wristbands. Families can also get creative at the Arctic Creation Station presented by Philadelphia Zoo, a hands-on holiday craft area perfect for kids of all ages.
Philadelphia International Airport will host Free Photos with PHL, featuring a festive backdrop and travel-themed props highlighting new destinations for 2026 and guests can take home a festive holiday greeting card to commemorate the season.
Our friends at Wawa keep the holidays warm and cozy as the official hot chocolate and coffee partner of the Philly Holiday Tree! Stop by any store to enjoy limited-time Holiday Blend coffee in new holiday cups perfect for toasting the holiday season!
To help make commutes and visits to the Philly Holiday Tree even brighter, friends and neighbors can take SEPTA from the Wawa Station which will be beautifully decorated as a Wawa Wonderland including a chance to see a special wrapped train car throughout the holidays!
Can’t make it in person? You can still join the celebration from home — 6abc will broadcast the event live at 7:00 p.m., hosted by Cecily Tynan and Rick Williams, with pre-show coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. from Alicia Vitarelli.
