Littleton’s Best Tradition Holiday Candlelight Walk

For 41 years citizens of Littleton and the region have gathered downtown the day after Thanksgiving to officially kick-off the holiday season with music, cider, lights and Santa. 2024 will be no different….well, it will be a little bit different.

While a large majority of the festivities will be just as they have been for many years, the celebrated block-by-block illumination of downtowns tree-lined streets will be just a shade darker.  In 2023 the city had to remove the trees due to an incurable fungal disease, and while new trees are expected to be planted, that will not occur for another few years as the city is waiting for the design and implantation of a new street scape and the replacement of a large water main under the street.

For now, city staff is working with their downtown partners to ensure a memorable and special event worthy of a four-decade ritual.  Last year the street posts will be wrapped with lighted garland, buildings such as Town Hall Arts Center will be illuminated with new lights and decor, the merchant sponsored “pumpkin poles” used for the Halloween season will be repurposed and decorated, and new lighted selfie stations will be available to commemorate the occasion. In 2024, the Downtown Development Authority is facilitating a Holiday Tree Program to bring even more of the festive atmosphere back!

This is all in addition to all the usual elements of this time-honored tradition.  Musical and performance ensembles are already practicing for the event, hot cocoa and cider will be served, live reindeer will make their annual pilgrimage to downtown, and of course the parade will return with thousands of twinkly lights will dazzle everyone in attendance.  And without missing a beat, Santa himself will make his way down Main Street to light the tree near the Melting Pot.

If you’ve never been, be sure to add this event to your holiday calendar; and if this is something that you don’t typically miss, don’t let the lack of trees deter you – Littleton’s 41st candlelight walk promises to be as special as ever.  Entertainment begins at 5:30pm on Friday, November 29.

(this blog post has been updated from an article that first appeared in Southwest Littleton Living Magazine, published by Best Version Media, in November 2023)