Florence, South Carolina – The 32nd Annual City-County Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, and will kick off the holiday season in Florence with a familiar glow. The party will start at 5:30 p.m. in Andrew H. Griffin Plaza, which is next to Wholly Smokin’ Restaurant at 146 S. Dargan Street. For more than 30 years, this event has brought people together to watch the ceremonial lighting of the city’s Christmas tree. This moment has become one of the community’s most beloved holiday traditions.
City and county partners will work together once more to put on the event, which will welcome the public to an evening that marks the formal start of the holiday season. When the lights come on, the plaza will be full with color and excitement, which will set the mood for the rest of the night. Families, friends, and neighbors are expected to come to the ritual every year to feel a sense of unity and holiday cheer.
The Downtown Development Corporation will put on Downtown Christmas Magic once the tree is lit. The activities will go on until 8:30 p.m., making the celebration last longer with holiday-themed fun and community events. You can walk around, enjoy the ambiance, and embrace the season with other people in the evening.
This year’s Holiday Music & Light Show, sponsored by Duke Energy, will have nightly presentations that combine music and lights to make the experience even better. The show will run from December 5 to December 31, every night from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m., weather permitting. The extended display gives residents and people who visit many chances to enjoy the season.
The yearly tree lighting is a long-standing and well-loved event on the community calendar.
