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Christmas with kids in Framingham
In Framingham, the Christmas season starts with a big spruce on Memorial Building Plaza. The city's tree lighting has grown for more than 30 years into a block party with Santa, stories and cookies.
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The story of Christmas in Framingham
How Framingham celebrates
The heart of Christmas in Framingham is the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Block Party in the center of the city. In 2025 it reached its 34th year, so it began in the early 1990s. A big Norway spruce stands at Memorial Building Plaza, and in past years schoolchildren sang carols on the Memorial Building steps while Santa sometimes arrived on a Framingham fire engine. Families then headed inside for hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes. Another gentle tradition is Caroling on the Common, hosted by the Framingham History Center at Historic Village Hall, with community singing, a display of vintage holiday decorations and photos with Santa.
Christmas last year in Framingham
The 34th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Block Party took place on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5 to 7:30 pm on Memorial Building Plaza and Union Avenue, and it was free. The tree was a 35-foot Norway spruce donated by local residents of Bradford Road, put up over Thanksgiving weekend. Children enjoyed a story walk and story time with author Megan Litwin, who read Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night. The library handed out free children's books and popcorn and brought its bookmobile, and there were hot chocolate, cookies, a Scouts sing-along, live entertainment and a visit with Santa Claus.
Fun facts about Christmas in Framingham
The city's tree has often honored someone. In 2020 a 30-foot Norway spruce was donated by a Southside resident to honor Framingham's veterans. That year the tree lighting was canceled to keep crowds small because of the pandemic, but the tree was still decorated by Public Works and lit for all of December. Santa and Mrs. Claus have arrived on a Framingham fire engine to light the tree, and the library's bookmobile has joined the party with green screen photos and free books. The mayor has called the event a beloved Framingham tradition.
Trains and Christmas near Framingham
A family that loves trains has a few good options within a drive of Framingham. The Boston Street Railway Association keeps New England streetcar history alive and is restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar. The National Streetcar Museum at Lowell is a trip north. Farther south, Edaville in Carver holds a holiday festival built around a two-foot gauge line that first carried cranberries in 1947.
- Boston Street Railway Association: A nonprofit for Boston and New England transit history, restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar.
- National Streetcar Museum at Lowell: A Lowell museum devoted to streetcars, a good stop for kids who love trolleys.
- Edaville: A holiday festival built on a two-foot gauge railroad that first carried cranberries in 1947.
Traditions today
- Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Block Party: A free early December evening on Memorial Building Plaza with a big spruce, Santa, cookies and hot chocolate.
- Story walk and story time: Recent tree lightings have included a story walk, a children's author reading and free books from the library.
- Santa arrives by fire engine: Santa and Mrs. Claus have ridden a Framingham fire engine to light the tree.
- Caroling on the Common: A community choir leads singing at the Framingham History Center, with vintage decorations and photos with Santa.
- A tree for the community: The city's tree is a Norway spruce donated by local residents and put up over Thanksgiving weekend.
A fact for kids
Framingham's big Christmas tree is a real Norway spruce, about 35 feet tall in 2025, donated by local neighbors. It goes up over Thanksgiving weekend, ready for the big lighting night in early December.
Questions about Christmas in Framingham
When does Framingham light its Christmas tree?
Framingham lights its tree at the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Block Party, held on a Friday evening in early December. In 2025 it was Friday, December 5, from 5 to 7:30 pm. The event is free. For this year's date, see our Framingham Christmas events guide on this page.
Where is the Framingham tree lighting held?
The tree lighting takes place at Memorial Building Plaza and Union Avenue in downtown Framingham. The tree is installed at the plaza over Thanksgiving weekend. Parking can be busy on the night, so plan to arrive a little early and walk the last few blocks with little ones.
How long has Framingham held a tree lighting?
The 2025 tree lighting was the 34th annual one, which means the tradition began in the early 1990s. It has grown from a simple lighting into a block party with stories, music, treats and Santa, and the mayor has called it a beloved Framingham tradition.
How big is the Framingham Christmas tree?
The 2025 tree was a 35-foot Norway spruce, donated by local residents of Bradford Road. In 2020 the city's tree was a 30-foot Norway spruce donated by a Southside resident to honor veterans. The trees are usually donated by local families and installed over Thanksgiving weekend.
Does Santa come to the Framingham tree lighting?
Yes. Santa Claus has joined the block party, and in past years Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a Framingham fire engine to light the tree. Families have also enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies and holiday music while waiting. Check our Framingham Christmas events guide on this page for current times.
What happened at the 2025 Framingham tree lighting?
The 34th annual event ran from 5 to 7:30 pm and was free. Families enjoyed a story walk, a reading of Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night by author Megan Litwin, free books and popcorn from the library, hot chocolate, cookies, a Scouts sing-along, live entertainment and a visit with Santa.
Is there a story time at the Framingham tree lighting?
Yes. The 2025 block party included a story walk and a story time with author Megan Litwin, who read Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night. The Framingham Public Library also gave out free children's books, so it is a nice night for families who like books as much as lights.
Was the Framingham tree lighting ever canceled?
In 2020 the city canceled the public ceremony to limit crowds during the pandemic. The tree was still decorated by Public Works and lit for all of December, so families could see it. The gathering returned in later years, and the city has held it again with the usual block party.
What is Caroling on the Common?
Caroling on the Common is a community event hosted by the Framingham History Center at Historic Village Hall on the Framingham Center Common. Past versions featured a community choir, a display of vintage holiday decorations, photos with Santa, hot cocoa and a food donation drive. Check the History Center for the current schedule.
What is the Framingham History Center?
The Framingham History Center is a local history organization based at Historic Village Hall on Oak Street, near the Framingham Center Common. At Christmas it has hosted Caroling on the Common, with vintage holiday decorations, including items from Dennison Manufacturing, a company with deep Framingham roots. Ask about its holiday hours before visiting.
Where else can kids see Santa near Framingham?
Besides the downtown tree lighting, the Natick Mall, a short drive away, ran Santa's Elevator Express through December 24 in 2024. Hours and dates change every season, so please confirm before you go. Our Framingham Christmas events guide on this page lists current options with dates.
How do I explain the tree lighting to a toddler?
Tell your child that the whole city gathers to turn on one giant tree together, just like a night light for the neighborhood. Then point out the music, the cookies and Santa. The story walk can help too, because little ones can follow the pages along the path.
Is the Framingham tree lighting free?
Yes. Admission to the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Block Party has been free, including the hot chocolate, cookies and children's books in recent years. Bring warm clothes, a stroller blanket and maybe a small flashlight for the walk home. Details for this year are in our Framingham Christmas events guide on this page.
Who donates the Framingham Christmas tree?
Local residents donate the tree. In 2025 it came from local residents of Bradford Road, and in 2020 a Southside resident gave a tree to honor Framingham's veterans. The city's Public Works crew has decorated the tree in past years, as it did in 2020.
What did schoolchildren do at past tree lightings?
In past years, schoolchildren sang carols on the steps of the Memorial Building before the tree was lit. Santa sometimes arrived on a fire engine, and families walked to Nevins Hall for hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes and photos with Santa. Programs change from year to year.
Does the library take part in Framingham Christmas events?
Yes. The Framingham Public Library has been part of the tree lighting, bringing its bookmobile with free books, popcorn and in some years green screen photos and a storywalk with a visit from a Yeti. Check the library's calendar for what is planned this year.
What is a story walk?
A story walk spreads the pages of a picture book along a path, so children read one page at a time as they walk. At the Framingham tree lighting the story walk is part of the block party, which gives little ones something to do besides stand in a crowd.
Are there train museums near Framingham?
Yes, a few within a drive. The Boston Street Railway Association covers New England streetcar history, the National Streetcar Museum is in Lowell, and Edaville in Carver runs a holiday festival. Always confirm hours, tickets and holiday schedules before you go, since each place sets its own.
What is Edaville?
Edaville in Carver is a rail park with a holiday festival built around the Edaville Railroad, a two-foot gauge line that first carried cranberries in 1947. General admission includes a Holiday Express train ride, so check Edaville's site for dates and tickets before you plan a trip.
What should we bring to the Framingham tree lighting?
Dress in warm layers, since it is an evening outdoors in December, and bring gloves and a hat. A stroller blanket helps, and so does a tote bag for the free books. Arrive early for a good view of the tree and Santa. See our Framingham Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
Sources
- WROR: Framingham to host 34th annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday block party, WROR
- Patch: Framingham tree lighting and holiday block party returns 2025, Patch
- Framingham.com: Framingham cancels popular Christmas tree lighting event, Framingham.com
- Framingham History Center: Caroling on the Common, Framingham History Center
- Patch: Santa Claus coming to Framingham, where to see him, Patch
- Framingham Public Library: 33rd Tree Lighting Ceremony, Framingham Public Library
- Rally Takes the Train: Boston Street Railway Association, Rally Takes the Train
- Rally Takes the Train: Edaville, Rally Takes the Train
- Rally Takes the Train: National Streetcar Museum at Lowell, Rally Takes the Train