Tree Lighting Ceremony

This is a Town-Organized event. What does this mean?

December 5, 2025

New location! Town Hall Campus, 73 Hunter Street
4:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Join community members and the Apex Town Council as the tree is lit for the very first time on Town Hall Campus! Southbound Santa and Mrs. Claus will join in on the fun for attendees to grab the season's first photos.

This year’s event features:

  • Entertainers like Poetry Fox and Cirque de Vol
  • Free Photo with Santa where attendees can snap a photo with Santa and receive a 4x6 and digital copy that night!
  • Craft stations to make reindeer food and write your letter to Santa 
  • Holiday vendors from the Apex Farmers Market
  • Food vendors such as Arepa Culture, Cafecito Coffee, Little Blue Bakehouse, and Mac Daddy's Food Truck. 

Schedule of Events

  • 4:30 pm: Middle School bands performance
  • 5:00 pm: Apex High School Dance Program performance
  • 5:25 pm: Apex Friendship Elementary Chorus performance
  • 5:45 pm: Academy for the Performing Arts Show Choir performance
  • 6:10 pm: UNC's The Tarpeggios performance
  • 6:30 pm: Tree Lighting with Apex Town Council members

Know Before You Go: 

  • The parking lot between Town Hall and the John M. Brown Community Center will be closed from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, December 5th.
  • View the downtown parking map for walkable parking locations.
  • The lighting of the tree is a rain or shine event; however, youth performances may be cancelled due to inclement weather. In case of poor weather conditions, photos with Southbound Santa and Mrs. Claus will move indoors.
  • GoApex Route 1 will operate on normal schedule during this event.
  • Town staff may be on site during the festival taking photos/video of festival events and attendees.



What is the difference between a Community Event and a Town-Organized Event?


Community Events 
This is an event that a non-profit organization runs, pays for, and plans. Town of Apex staff provides an event location (Town Hall Campus, Salem Street, etc.), along with staff from public safety, public works and other departments, as necessary.

Town-Organized Events
This is an event that the Town of Apex creates, pays for, and plans. Town of Apex staff manages the programming, including activities, logistics, and vendors. This is sometimes referred to as a “Town Owned Event”.