What: Downtown Holiday Festival and Holiday Street Lighting Ceremony

When: Wednesday, December 12 – 4-8pm

Where: East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, 339 11th Street in Richmond

Featuring: Santa Visits, A Richmond Nutcracker, Holiday Street Lighting

With wreaths and snowflakes adorning the street lamps along Macdonald Avenue, Downtown Richmond is starting to look a lot like the holidays. Behind the scenes, Richmond Main Street Initiative (RMSI) and East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (EBCPA) are getting ready for the annual Downtown Holiday Festival on Wednesday, December 12 from 4pm-8pm.

Families from the Iron Triangle and beyond are invited to come downtown to the historic Winters Building and enjoy this unique holiday celebration with music, performances and creative festivities. There will be ‘Ask the Doc’ with Kaiser Permanente physicians, group caroling, the magical illumination of Macdonald Avenue and a memorable visit from Santa.

Visits and photo opportunities with Santa take place in the Community Theater form 4-7:30pm. There will be giveaways for gift bags and books donated by West Count Reads.

Upstairs in the Iron Triangle Theater, East Bay Center resident companies will present A Richmond Nutcracker, a unique and spectacular multi-discipline performance piece. Classic characters, stories and dances will be presented in both traditional and ‘distinctly Richmond’ interpretations. Performances are scheduled for 5pm and 6:30 pm.

Following the second performance, a procession will lead guests outdoors for group caroling and the ceremonial illumination of Richmond’s holiday streetlights.

This event is free and made possible through the generous support from the  City of Richmond, Sims Metal Management, SF Bay Ferry, Mechanics Bank and individual donors. More information at Richmond Main Street.