Tree-lighting ceremony and 39th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade mark official start of the holidays at Jack London Square

Oakland, CA – December 4, 2015: Tonight, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, is the annual tree-lighting ceremony at Jack London Square along the Oakland waterfront and Saturday evening is Deck the Hulls, – the 39th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade.

Friday evening officials will switch on 5,000 lights on the 55-foot tall Shasta fir tree at the foot of Broadway. The family-friendly event is from 5-7 p.m. Oakland Board of Port Commissioners President Earl S. Hamlin will be among the officials at the festive occasion. The evening will include holiday music, live reindeer, photos with Santa and more.

Several entertaining groups from the Oakland School of the Arts – Vocal Rush, Chamber Choir and Jazz Guitar Ensemble – will be on hand to sing and play music; Oakland Ballet Company students will perform snippets from the Nutcracker; and the famous tap-dancing Christmas Trees will make their annual appearance. Also on hand will be Oakland Spirit Orchestra from West Oakland Middle School and the Circus Spire Youth Troupe from the Kinetic Arts center.

Kids will delight at the opportunity to decorate cookies and make holiday ornaments. Nneka’s Holiday Pop Up will offer more than 70 local vendors and artisans from 5 – 9 pm at 55 Harrison Street.

Saturday evening the 39th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Oakland estuary. Visitors can watch the holiday boat parade from Jack London square along the shoreline or from local restaurants at the Square. Bay Area boaters decorate their boats of all sizes with festive lights and holiday characters.

All are welcome and the events are free. http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/events/special-events