The 2025 Citadel Tree Lighting: Date, Performers, And 5 Facts About The World's Tallest Christmas Tree
The annual Citadel Tree Lighting event, a cornerstone of the Southern California holiday season, is renowned for illuminating the World's Tallest Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree and kicking off the holiday shopping frenzy. While the spectacular 2024 celebration, which featured a star-studded concert and a massive 115-foot tree, has already passed, the official date for the next highly anticipated event—the 2025 Citadel Tree Lighting—has been confirmed and should be marked immediately on your calendar.
For those who missed the stunning display in November 2024, or for those planning their 2025 Southern California holiday trip, the details surrounding this free, annual concert and celebration at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce, CA, are essential. This event not only draws massive crowds but also officially inaugurates the holiday season for the entire Los Angeles County area, often featuring celebrity performances and a magical faux snow experience.
The Official Date for Citadel Tree Lighting 2025
The Citadel Outlets Tree Lighting is one of the most consistent and grand holiday traditions in the region, traditionally taking place on a Saturday in early-to-mid November to precede the crucial Black Friday shopping period. The good news for holiday enthusiasts is that the date for the next major event is already set, allowing ample time for planning a visit to the Commerce, CA, shopping center.
The 2025 Citadel Tree Lighting Concert and Celebration is officially scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025. This free, open-entry event typically transforms the outlet mall’s central plaza into a massive outdoor concert venue, culminating in the dramatic illumination of the colossal Christmas tree.
- Event: 24th Annual Tree Lighting Concert & Celebration
- Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Time: Generally runs from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PST)
- Location: Citadel Outlets, 100 Citadel Drive, Commerce, CA
- Cost: Free and open to the public
While the exact lineup of musical performers for the 2025 event will be announced closer to the date, the concert portion is a major draw, featuring a mix of rising stars and local talent. The event is a perfect way to kick off your holiday shopping, as the mall often offers extended hours and special deals to coincide with the festivities.
The 2024 Citadel Tree Lighting: A Record-Breaking Recap
The 2024 celebration, which took place around November 9, 2024, set a high bar for the upcoming year, captivating thousands of attendees with its sheer scale and entertainment value. The centerpiece, as always, was the magnificent 115-foot white fir, proudly claiming the title of the World's Tallest Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree.
The tree's installation is a spectacle in itself, requiring a multi-day trek from its origin in Northern California, often the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Once erected at the Citadel Outlets, the decorating process transforms the massive fir into a dazzling beacon of holiday cheer.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Event:
- The Tree: A 115-foot White Fir, recognized as the world's tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree.
- Decorations: Adorned with over 18,000 multicolored LED lights and approximately 10,000 bows and ornaments.
- Performers: The free concert featured exciting performances by musical acts, including SZN4, Pressley, Full Circle Boys, and talented students from the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA).
- Special Effects: The celebration traditionally concludes with a festive display of "faux snow" falling over the shopping center, a delightful touch of winter magic in sunny Los Angeles.
The 2024 event successfully ushered in the holiday shopping season, leading directly into the busy Black Friday period. For shoppers, the lit tree serves as an iconic and highly visible landmark for discount shopping in the Los Angeles area.
Facts About the World's Tallest Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree
The Citadel Outlets Christmas Tree is more than just a decoration; it is a logistical marvel and a symbol of the holiday spirit that attracts visitors from all over Southern California and beyond. Its status as the World's Tallest Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree is a point of pride for the Commerce, CA, location and a testament to the grand scale of LA holiday celebrations.
Here are five incredible facts that solidify the tree's place as a global holiday icon, providing deep topical authority for this annual Los Angeles tradition:
1. It's a White Fir from Northern California
Unlike many large city Christmas trees that are often artificial or spruce varieties, the Citadel tree is a genuine, fresh-cut White Fir (Abies concolor). It is carefully selected from a certified sustainable forest, typically the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California. This ensures the tree is both majestic and sourced responsibly.
2. The Height is Staggering: 115 Feet Tall
The tree consistently stands at an astounding 115 feet tall, or roughly the height of a 12-story building. This massive height makes it a dominant feature on the Los Angeles skyline and a major competitor for the title of the world's tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree, often rivaling or surpassing the heights of other famous national trees.
3. A Logistical Operation to Transport
Transporting a 115-foot tree from Northern California to Commerce, CA, is a major undertaking. It requires a specialized, multi-day convoy and careful coordination with local authorities to safely navigate the highways, a process that generates significant media attention and marks the beginning of the holiday setup.
4. The Decorating Process is an Art Form
The sheer number of decorations required for the tree is mind-boggling. The approximately 18,000 multicolored LED lights and 10,000 bows and ornaments must be meticulously placed, often requiring specialized lifts and crews to ensure the entire structure is evenly covered in holiday sparkle. The lights alone are a dazzling spectacle when illuminated during the Tree Lighting Concert.
5. The Event is a Major Economic Driver
The annual Tree Lighting Concert is a massive draw for the Citadel Outlets, a prominent Los Angeles outlet shopping center recognized by its Assyrian-style façade. By hosting the event in early November, the Citadel Outlets effectively jumpstarts the holiday shopping season, driving significant foot traffic and sales in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The combination of a free concert and the beginning of holiday deals makes it an irresistible destination.
Planning Your Visit to the Citadel Outlets Holiday Season
Whether you plan to attend the 2025 Tree Lighting Concert on November 8, 2025, or simply visit during the holiday season, the Citadel Outlets offer a complete holiday experience. The illuminated tree remains on display throughout the season, providing a spectacular backdrop for holiday shopping.
The holiday period at the Citadel Outlets typically features other festive activities alongside the World's Tallest Christmas Tree, including:
- Extended Shopping Hours: To accommodate the rush of holiday shoppers, especially around the Black Friday and Christmas periods.
- Photos with Santa: A classic holiday tradition, often with special "Santa Cares" events for children with special needs.
- Snowy Nights: The occasional faux snow event continues after the main lighting ceremony, adding to the winter atmosphere.
The Citadel Tree Lighting is a must-see event for anyone in the Southern California area, offering a free, family-friendly celebration that marries live entertainment with the awe-inspiring sight of the world's biggest fresh-cut Christmas tree. Mark your calendars for November 8, 2025, to experience this legendary Los Angeles holiday kickoff.
Detail Author:
- Name : Cheyanne Stehr
- Username : garnet96
- Email : zula.botsford@lang.info
- Birthdate : 2001-07-01
- Address : 78004 Jerald Turnpike Suite 150 Port Jayda, MT 63646-4713
- Phone : +1-352-573-5945
- Company : Larson-Roberts
- Job : Etcher and Engraver
- Bio : Maxime voluptate aut libero tenetur recusandae. Qui ipsa corrupti voluptate atque porro sit sunt magnam. Assumenda quisquam repellat et sit.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/pierre.zulauf
- username : pierre.zulauf
- bio : Sunt provident aliquam eligendi necessitatibus. Quisquam voluptas porro omnis numquam. Ut non nulla deleniti.
- followers : 5188
- following : 1286
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/zulauf1971
- username : zulauf1971
- bio : Sit vel maiores magni est aut.
- followers : 3627
- following : 521
