It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration

It’s A Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration

Friday, December 4, 2026, from 4-6pm

This fun and festive event includes a free visit with Santa, free train rides on the Lafayette Express, official holiday tree lighting ceremony, one-of-a-kind photo ops, live musical entertainment, crafts, holiday treats and more! Arrive early to see Santa’s arrival and plan to stay in downtown Lafayette for dinner! This is a free community event sponsored by the Dana Green Team and Branagh Development.

It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration 2025. View photos by Craig Isaacs, BlueGoo Photography.

Cheers to a Spectacular “It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration 2025”

What a fantastic time we had at the It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration on Sunday, December 7th!

It was a joy to see families enjoying Santa photos, train rides on the Lafayette Express, the official tree lighting, live performances from local groups, kids’ activities, and plenty of holiday treats.

A huge thank-you to our generous co-sponsors—Dana Green Team, Branagh Development, and the City of Lafayette—for making this event possible.

We also extend our appreciation to:

East Bay Nursery for the beautiful tree and Light It Up for the lovely holiday lights
Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, AAUW-OML Ambassadors for STEM, and Sideboard for the free hot chocolate
Lafayette Historical Society for the Old Betsy firetruck
Jackson’s Wines & Spirits for ice
The Fun & Game Experts for the Lafayette Express Train
Scouting America Troops 402G & 204 for their wreaths
Butter & Batter for the delicious cookies and Pancoast Pizza for yummy pizza
Canyon Club Brewery, Headlands Brewing, Western Flyer Brewing, and Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling for beverages
Our wonderful volunteers from Troop 402G, Troop 204, Boys Team Charity, and the National Charity League
Roaming Enchanted Characters from The Peter Pan Foundation
Fantastic local performers from Lafayette Nursery School, Myeve Capozzi Vocal Training, Joy in Motion, Stanley Middle School Chorus, Acalanes High School, Choir, Performing Academy, and New You Dance Center (and special thanks to AJ for the sound and lights!)
Local 3rd grade students from the Lafayette School District and St. Perpetua School for their gratitude cards
Republic Services for providing the waste and recycling containers for the event
Lafayette Public Works and Lafayette Police Department
Lafayette Chamber Board Members and Ambassadors for helping at our beverage station and with set-up: Megan Schnurr, Tim Regan, Duane Schulze, Tom Schnurr, John McCormick, Matt Pease, Leslie Pease, Christine Raymond, Maury “Mo” McKenna, Katie Santos, Jeremy Steel, Diane Barbera, Katie Jager, and Alycia Doshi.

📷See more event photos HERE from the Chamber, and HERE from Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, and HERE from Craig Isaacs at BlueGoo Photography.

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“We are very impressed with your Chamber. We have been members of other Chambers over the years and it’s been nothing like the experiences we’re having right out of the gate with your organization. Thank you for your great communication, follow up, and professionalism.”
– Peter Dewey, Bayview Painting

“I couldn’t have asked for a better resource than the Chamber, as I was establishing my medical practice in Lafayette. AJ, Holly, and Sara were so responsive to my questions and gave me many ideas on networking in the community. They host several events that foster community building. I honestly cannot imagine a more robust, active, and friendly chamber as this. I’m a member for life!”
– Cheruba Prabakar, Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery

“WE LOVE THE CHAMBER! Batch and Brine has been a member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for almost six years. We value and appreciate the incredible amount of work this organization produces for our community through many events and support for each business. The networking and education of information that’s spilled out weekly for the business community is impressive. They are a helping hand in so many ways for our business community and beyond. We couldn’t be part of this community without being part of the chamber. Lafayette Chamber is one of the best organizations we’ve worked with, so don’t think twice about it, join the Chamber!” – Rolla Ghaben, Batch & Brine

“The Chamber was instrumental in helping us open 14 years ago. The staff went out of their way to help us make connections and ensure we were successful. We would not be where we are today without the Chamber!”
– John & Colleen McCormick, Lamorinda Music

It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration 2024

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 4:00pm-6:00pm, Santa arrives at 4:30pm, Tree lighting at 5:30pm, Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road, 3530 Plaza Way, Lafayette)

This FREE, fun, family-friendly celebration includes Santa sightings, free train rides on the Lafayette Express, official holiday tree lighting ceremony, one-of-a-kind photo ops, live musical entertainment, kid’s crafts, holiday treats and more! Arrive early and plan to stay!

Festivities begin at 4:00pm when Santa is scheduled to parade along Golden Gate Way starting at First Street and arriving at Lafayette Plaza at approximately 4:30pm. A must-not-miss for the little ones! Pick up your Santa pass at check-in table near Lafayette Historical Society‘s Old Betsy! Free train tickets will be available at the Lafayette Express Station (near the Lafayette Park Theater)! Pick up your free ride tickets starting at 4:00pm.

It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration is presented by the Lafayette Chamber, and sponsored by local Lafayette Realtor the Dana Green Team and Branagh Development, who together along with the City of Lafayette are also sponsoring the environmentally-friendly downtown Lafayette twinkle lights for the holiday season.

Come hungry and thirsty—there’s something for everyone!

Drinks for purchase: wine, beer, sodas and sparkling waters featuring Coca Cola, Headlands Brewing Company, and Canyon Club Brewery. Thankful to our Chamber Volunteers and Lafayette Rotary Club for helping serve.
Food for purchase: Delicious offerings from Sideboard Lafayette and at the Round Table Pizza tent.
Complimentary hot chocolate: Provided by the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary and the AAUW-OML Ambassadors for STEM.

Activities during the event:

Santa Photo Op (get your Santa pass starting at 4:00pm near Old Betsy)
Lafayette Express Train (get your Train Tickets near the Park Theater)
All Ages Recreation Downtown offers free activities for all ages thanks to volunteers from the Community Foundation of Lafayette and Lafayette Juniors.
New You Dance Center 360 Photo booth Photo Op
Old Betsy Photo Op
The Peter Pan Foundation (PPF) roaming characters Photo Op
Design your own gratitude card at the craft table.
Enjoy the gratitude cards that were decorated by our local 3rd grade students from the Lafayette School District, St. Perpetua School and Contra Costa Jewish Day School.
Purchase your holiday wreath(s) from Scout Troops 402 and 204 and holiday garland from Scout Troop 224 B&G

On Stage Entertainment Schedule

4-4:10pm – Lafayette Nursery School
4:10-4:25pm – Myeve Capozzi Vocal Training
4:30pm – Santa’s Arrival from Golden Gate Way to Plaza Way
4:30-4:40pm – New You Dance Center
4:40-5pm – Performing Academy
5-5:15pm – Stanley Middle School Chorus
5:15-5:30pm – Acalanes High School Choir
5:30pm-5:35pm – Tree Lighting by Event Sponsors, tree provided by East Bay Nursery and the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary raffle drawing
5:35-5:50pm – New You Dance Center

Event photography by Craig Isaacs, BlueGoo Photography.

The Lafayette Chamber encourages you to shop and eat in downtown Lafayette this holiday season. View Dining & Gift Guide HERE!

ABOUT THE 2023 EVENT

THANK YOU for Making the Holidays Bright!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THE 2023 EVENT SPECIAL!

The Lafayette Chamber bar served drinks donated from Coca Cola, Headlands Brewing Company, and Canyon Club Brewery. Running the bar was Lafayette Chamber board members and volunteers Tom and Megan Schnurr, Sequoia Signs; John McCormick, Lamorinda Music; Reid Edwards; Don Tatzin; Jeremy Steel, Steel Chiropractic; Brian Aiello, Pinnacle Apparel & Promotions; Kathy Merchant; Matt Pease; Fred Steingraf, Edward Jones, and Christine Raymond, Greet Lafayette. And thank you Dennis Garrison, Oakwood Athletic Club, for lighting up the bar!

We enjoyed food/drinks and snacks from Sideboard Lafayette, Hollie’s Homegrown, Halal Bites of Chicago, Lola’s Sweet Treats, The Lafayette Park Theater, Rotary Club of Lamorinda Sunrise and the AAUW-OML Ambassadors for STEM.

Kids activities and photo ops from Peter Pan Foundation, Mrs. Claus (Grace Dixon), All Ages Recreation Downtown and the Community Foundation of Lafayette and the Lafayette Express Train hosted by the Fun and Game Experts.

Special thanks to Old Betsy and the Lafayette History Society, Larry Blodgett (Blodgett’s Abbey Carpet & Flooring), Mike Raffo (driver) and John Kennett from the LHS Board. Always a pleasure to see Old Betsy in action! Tree provided by East Bay Nursery.

Sincere thanks to Amy Coombe and Branagh Development staff for securing and lighting the tree! To Dana Green and Todd Green, Jennifer Ries, Lauren Woolsey, and Ginny Peterson for decorating the Plaza!

Thank you AJ Rogers, New You Dance Center, for the stage sound and lights and the photo booth! Thank you Dennis Markam, Town Hall Theatre, for being our MC along side Ginny W. Quell. Thank you for welcoming us all to the event, City of Lafayette Mayor, Carl Anduri. Thank you to our entertainers Lafayette Nursery School, Myeve Capozzi Vocal Training Studio, New You Dance Center / Lafayette Recreation Kids, Performing Academy, Stanley Middle School Chorus, Town Hall Theatre, Acalanes High School Choir, and New You Dance Center.

Holiday Wreaths were for sale from Scout BSA Troop 204. Thank you Troop 204, Troop 402, and volunteers from National Charity League, Boys Team Charity, Acalanes Key Club and Acalanes High School. Thank you Molly Dougherty, Riley Regan, and Tim Regan, One Toyota of Oakland, for their tremendous help setting up, running and taking down the event!

And thank you to our local 3rd grade teachers who facilitated the gratitude cards that were decorated by students from the Lafayette School District, St. Perpetua School and Contra Costa Jewish Day School.

And thank you to our media promoters: Minuteman Press Lafayette, Grapevine Coupon Book, Lamorinda Weekly, Your Town Monthly and Greet Lafayette.

View photos from Lafayette Chamber staff HERE>
View photos from Jeff Heyman/Lamorinda Weekly (credit @heymanfoto) HERE>