Get ready for the Otay Ranch Town Center Tree Lighting 2026! I’ve been going to the Christmas tree lighting at Otay Ranch Town Center for the past five years now, and I love it. I’ll admit, though, I still miss the little parade they used to hold down Main Street. If you’re a Chula Vista OG, then you probably remember it. It was a small parade, but it made for a great family night, and I’d love to see it come back someday.
Until then, the tree lighting is still one of my favorite ways to kick off the holidays. Kids bounce around, the smell of street food drifts over from the farmers market, and at 7 p.m. the whole crowd counts down together. If you’ve never been, make this your year. The center is hosting its 20th annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Farmers Market on Tuesday, November 17, from 4 to 7 p.m., and it’s free.
Twenty Years of Kicking Off the Holidays in South County
Twenty years is a long run for any community event, and this one has earned a spot on many family calendars around here. The timing is fitting, too, since Otay Ranch Town Center has been celebrating its own 20th anniversary all year. I still can’t believe it has been 20 years since this center opened, wow!!
General Manager Tim Kilcourse says families treat the night as the official start of their holiday season. “We are thrilled to welcome everyone out once again for a night filled with magic and excitement,” he said.
Turn It Into a Night Market
Here’s the part a lot of people don’t realize: the tree lighting happens during the center’s weekly Tuesday farmers market. So you’re not just showing up and waiting around for 7 o’clock. You can make a whole evening of it.
Pick up fresh produce from certified farm stands, grab dinner from street food vendors, and browse handmade goods. For the holiday edition, we’ll also add extra holiday-themed vendors and gift stands, making it a great chance to pick up a few presents while supporting local makers. Eat, shop, and catch the show, all without moving your car. The Otay Ranch Town Center Farmers Market is one of my favorite markets in Chula Vista, especially at night.
Free Holiday Fun for the Whole Family
All of the extras leading up to the lighting are free and include:
- Holiday giveaways for the kids
- Cookies and hot chocolate, while they last
- Snow falling all evening in the courtyard by Santa’s House
- A life-size snow globe you can step inside for photos
- Holiday characters and entertainers roaming the center
- Live music and performances from local talent
This is the kick-off to the holiday season and is the perfect way to get in the festive mood.
The Big Moment at 7 P.M.
Santa makes his big entrance on Main Street and lights the tree at 7 o’clock on the dot, so don’t be late. And this tree is no joke. It stands almost 50 feet tall with more than 17,000 twinkling lights, over 1,000 ornaments, a glowing base that shifts colors and features snowflakes, and an LED star on top.
Last year, Xavier the Xman of 92.5 hosted the event, and he did a great job getting everyone in on the fun.
A Few Tips for the Otay Ranch Town Center Tree Lighting
Get there early. The cookies and hot chocolate disappear fast, and the snow globe photo line gets longer as the night goes on.
Plan to eat and shop before the lighting. The event wraps up at 7, and while a few vendors stay open for a little bit afterward, most start packing up once the tree is lit.
For a clear view of Santa and the tree, find your spot on Main Street a little before 7. It fills up quickly.
Bring a jacket. Our November evenings get cooler than you’d expect once the sun goes down. And come hungry, because dinner at the market is half the fun.
Event Details
When: Tuesday, November 17, 4 to 7 p.m. (tree lighting at 7 p.m.)
Where: Main Street at Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista
Cost: Free
More info: otayranchtowncenter.com
See You on Main Street
Five years in, this is still one of my favorite nights of the year in Chula Vista. Free holiday crafts, free cocoa, a night market, and Santa lighting a 50-foot tree make for a hard-to-beat Tuesday. Bring the family, grab some dinner, and kick off the season with your neighbors.
And this is just the start. Many more holiday events are coming up around town, so stay tuned. With so much happening in our community this time of year, stay in the loop by following Chula Vista Living on Instagram and Facebook at @livingchulavista.
I’ll be out there at the Otay Ranch Town Center Tree Lighting 2026, and as always, if you see me, be sure to say hi!
