35-foot Christmas tree will be star of the show in downtown Mississauga

People of all ages are invited to an early Christmas party and tree-lighting event in Mississauga’s downtown core this weekend.

City of Mississauga officials are turning Celebration Square into a holiday season winter wonderland as they host the annual Light Up the Square event on Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.

All that’ll be missing from the seasonal party is the snow, as temperatures are forecast to be well above freezing.

Admission is free and people of all ages are welcome to attend, city officials say.

The main attraction, as usual, is the 35-foot-tall Christmas tree that’ll be lit up for the holiday season.

“Magical times are upon us. Join us for an enchanting evening as we kick off the holiday season,” the city said in a news release.

Also on tap for the evening will be musical entertainment, live performances, a puppet show for kids, photos with Santa Claus, food trucks and vendors selling holiday gifts.

Mayor Carolyn Parrish, city councillors and special guests will be on hand as well to light up the huge Christmas tree.

Here’s the schedule for the event:

• 5 p.m. – DJ  D-Smooth Live Spin
• 5:20 p.m. – Twisted Dog Theatre Puppet Show
• 6:15 p.m. – noelle
• 7 p.m. – Official Ceremony and lighting of the Christmas Tree with mayor and council
• 7:20 p.m. – Encore performance by noelle
• 7:50 p.m. – U.N. Jefferson
• 8:20 p.m. – Trash Panda Brass

Celebration Square will also be home to art installations for the holiday season.

The light installation moonGARDEN will be in the square from Nov. 23 to Jan. 6. Created in 2012 by Lucion, moonGARDEN has been seen by more than a million people and toured the world, from Lyon’s Fête des Lumières to Brussels, Medellin, Beijing and now Mississauga.

Featuring four majestic spheres that host delicate shadow theatres and soundscapes, the light installation celebrates a more inclusive world, the city says.

The square is also home to a special 50th anniversary projection mapping installation on the Hazel McCallion Central Library façade.

For more information, visit the event page here.

(Cover photo: City of Mississauga)