2023 Event
Castle Rock Festival of Lights
Tree Lighting and Parade
Second Saturday of December each year
Free pictures with Santa start at 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm./More after the Tree Lighting - Santa will hang around for pictures until about 7:30 pm!
Hometown Parade will start at 5:30, with a tree lighting ceremony to follow.
Gift Vendors, Food Vendors, local businesses and restaurants will be open during the event.
When:  Saturday, December 9, 2023
Event starts at 2:00 pm

Castle Rock Festival of Lights is an amazing family-friendly event each December.
Claim a spot of sidewalk along Cowlitz St. or Front Ave. for the hometown parade, starting at 5:30 pm. A very well decked-out Castle Rock Fire Department, several local businesses. Following the parade, the official tree lighting ceremony will begin near the Post Office at 126 W Cowlitz St. Santa will lead the countdown and we’ll flip the switch, illuminating the charming downtown with thousands of glittering lights. Following the lighting ceremony, the Castle Rock High School band and the Castle Rock Men’s Ensemble will lead the crowd in classic Christmas Carols. Businesses will be decked out, each trying to win the coveted Best Decorated Storefront award. The committee also encourages attendees to come early and stay late to enjoy restaurant and shopping specials throughout the town, on both exit 48 and 49. Festival-goers can also enter to win fantastic raffle prizes being drawn the night of the celebration.
And of course, Santa will be making his annual stop for free pictures with all the good little boys and girls, inside the Visitors Center located at 147 Front Ave.
Whether this is your 1st year or your 11th year, you are sure to have yourself a merry little Festival of Lights. There’s a lot to do in this little town! For complete details and a schedule of events, please visit the Castle Rock Festival of Lights Facebook page.