Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Lucena
In 2025 the Quezon Provincial Capitol in Lucena lit an 80-foot Christmas tree beside a village of miniature Quezon towns. The park next door has lit trees since long before that, including a 56-foot coconut-husk tree in 2011.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
We’re checking this season’s Christmas events in Lucena with every host. Subscribe and we’ll email you the day they go live.
Free. We’ll email you the day they go live, then once a week with new events in Lucena. Unsubscribe at any time.
The story of Christmas in Lucena
A coconut-husk tree and the first Paskong Quezonian
Christmas in Lucena centers on Perez Park, the four-block sunken park beside the Quezon Provincial Capitol. In 2011 a 56-foot tree decorated with coconut husks was meant to symbolize efforts to revive the coconut industry.Paskong Quezonian, the province's signature holiday celebration, started in 2022 and now lights the capitol grounds every season.
An 80-foot tree and a village of tiny Quezon towns
The 2025 Paskong Quezonian opened in late November at the Provincial Capitol in Lucena, with the lights running nightly until January 6, 2026. Thousands came to the opening. The grounds had an 80-foot Christmas tree, interactive light installations and a walk-through Christmas Village of miniature Quezon towns. Lucban won the village contest, with Pagbilao and Lucena City close behind. The theme was Love is the Magic of Christmas, and the night ended with a countdown, fireworks and a lit capitol facade.
43 towns on one rock and 29 minutes of fireworks
Perez Park has a rock monument naming Quezon's 43 municipalities, and in 2023 a hollow archway tunnel led to a Belen scene near it. The 2024 switch-on on November 22 had a tree made of recycled materials about four stories tall, a tunnel of lights and 29 minutes of fireworks. The capitol was designed by American architect William Parsons, built in 1924 and inaugurated in 1927. Part of the park is a lighted butterfly garden.
Traditions today
- Paskong Quezonian at the Capitol: The province's signature Christmas celebration began in 2022. It lights the Provincial Capitol grounds in Lucena each season with a big tree and light installations.
- Christmas Village of Quezon towns: In 2025 the walk-through village showed miniature versions of Quezon towns. Lucban won the contest, ahead of Pagbilao and Lucena City.
- Lights in Perez Park: The park is lit in blocks, with tunnels, reindeer, a Belen scene and a lighted butterfly garden. Lights in 2024 were on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Night market at the Capitol: In 2024 a tiangge sold Quezon-made products, kakanin (rice cakes) and drinks beside the lights.
- Atrium tree at the Lucena mall: The mall lights a giant tree in its Atrium in October, ringed by lighted bears, toy soldiers and gift boxes, and keeps it up until January 7.
A fact for kids
In 2011 Lucena's Perez Park had a 56-foot Christmas tree covered in coconut husks, and one rock in the park lists the names of all 43 Quezon towns.
Questions about Christmas in Lucena
Where do families in Lucena go to see the Paskong Quezonian lights?
Families go to the Quezon Provincial Capitol grounds and Perez Park in Lucena City, which is lit each season for Paskong Quezonian. The 2025 display had an 80-foot tree, interactive light installations and a walk-through village of miniature Quezon towns. Past seasons are the guide for now, since no 2026 dates have been confirmed.
When does the Paskong Quezonian lighting usually happen?
The lighting has opened in late November in recent years. In 2024 it was Friday, November 22, and the 2025 opening was reported on November 30, 2025, with the lights nightly until January 6, 2026. No 2026 dates were confirmed at the time of writing, so Rally Takes the Train's Lucena Christmas events guide is the place to check for the 2026 lighting.
How long do the Lucena capitol lights stay on?
They stay up for about six weeks. The 2024 display ran until January 7, 2025, and the 2025 lights were scheduled nightly until January 6, 2026. In 2024 the lights were on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., so plan to arrive in the evening.
What was the Christmas Village at Paskong Quezonian 2025?
It was a walk-through village of miniature Quezon towns on the capitol grounds. Towns competed in a contest, and Lucban won, with Pagbilao and Lucena City placing close behind. The 2025 setup was more immersive than in earlier years, with interactive light installations around it.
When did Paskong Quezonian begin?
Paskong Quezonian started in 2022. It has since grown into the province's signature holiday celebration, held at the Quezon Provincial Capitol in Lucena City. The 2025 theme was Love is the Magic of Christmas, announced by Governor Angelina Tan, and earlier years had their own themes.
What was the giant coconut Christmas tree in Perez Park?
A 56-foot tree decorated with coconut husks stood in Perez Park in December 2011, meant to symbolize efforts to revive the coconut industry. Officials planned a replacement without coconut decorations.
Why was there a coconut Christmas tree in Lucena?
The 2011 tree in Perez Park was meant to symbolize efforts to revive the ailing coconut industry. It was built on coconut-lumber frames and decorated with coconut husks and multicolored lights. It stood at the provincial capitol grounds, where the province still holds its main Christmas display.
What is Perez Park in Lucena like for young kids?
Perez Park is a four-block sunken park built in the early American colonial period. At Christmas 2023 it had reindeer, a tunnel leading to a Belen scene, a garden of tall light roses and a park cave and playground area. A lighted butterfly garden is part of the park, as of 2024.
Besides the tree, what other lights have kids seen at Paskong Quezonian?
The 2024 lights had a tunnel of lights, a four-story tree made of recycled materials and a young performers' dance number. In 2023 there were golden reindeer, two snow face-in-hole stands by the Quezon statue and an animated projection on the capitol walls. Displays change from year to year.
Is there a night market at the Lucena capitol Christmas lights?
Yes, in 2024. The lighting night included a tiangge selling Quezon-made products, kakanin (rice cakes) and drinks. In 2011 a three-day Christmas bazaar and trade fair was set up near the tree in Perez Park. Vendors vary by year, so confirm before going.
How long are the fireworks at the Lucena lighting?
The 2024 Paskong Quezonian lighting included a fireworks display of 29 minutes. In 2023 the fireworks used chrysanthemum, willow and snowball styles, and crowds stayed despite rain. The 2025 opening ended with a countdown, fireworks and a lit capitol facade. Fireworks are tied to the opening night.
Which Lucena mall has a giant Christmas tree?
SM City Lucena lights a giant tree in its Atrium. One launch was held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, and hundreds of people came. The tree stood among lighted bears, toy soldiers, gift boxes, a red Santa chair and mini stars, and the display stayed up until January 7.
Does Lucena start Christmas early?
Yes, at least at the mall. SM City Lucena lit its giant tree on October 28, 2023, and kept the display until January 7. The provincial capitol lights follow later, with openings on November 22, 2024, and in late November 2025. Both run into early January.
Who designed the Quezon Provincial Capitol, and how does it look at Christmas?
The capitol, called the kapitolyo, is neoclassical and art deco in style. American architect William Parsons designed it, it was built in 1924 and inaugurated in 1927. At Christmas it is the backdrop to the lights, and in 2023 an animated projection played on its walls.
What did the 2023 Perez Park lights look like?
The switch-on in December 2023 lit four blocks of the park. Highlights were a Singapore-inspired installation, golden reindeer, lotus-shaped installations, a Belen tunnel, red-flame candlelight installations and a rock monument naming Quezon's 43 municipalities. Governor Angelina Tan and local marching bands took part.
When did the 2024 Lucena lights switch on?
The display switched on November 22. The theme of the 2024 lighting was gratitude. One visitor, 65, called the lights a welcome respite.
How many towns are on the Perez Park monument?
The rock monument in Perez Park lists the names of the 43 municipalities of Quezon. It stands beside a hollow archway tunnel that led to a Belen scene in 2023. It makes a simple talking point for kids: ask them to find the name of their own town.
Where can we spend Christmas evenings in Lucena with kids?
The best documented spots are Perez Park and the Quezon Provincial Capitol, lit from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in 2024, and the atrium of SM City Lucena. No Christmas Day plans are listed. Dates for 2026 will show up in Rally Takes the Train's Christmas events guide for Lucena once confirmed.
Besides the 80-foot capitol tree, what can kids do at Christmas in Lucena?
Based on past seasons, walk through the Paskong Quezonian lights at the Provincial Capitol, find the reindeer and Belen scenes in Perez Park, try the Christmas Village of Quezon towns, and see the atrium tree at SM City Lucena. Lights in 2024 ran from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., so evenings work best with little ones.
Are 2026 Lucena Christmas events confirmed yet?
Not yet. At the time of writing, no host page had given confirmed 2026 dates for Paskong Quezonian or the SM City Lucena tree. Past seasons opened between late October and late November, so dates may be announced soon. Rally Takes the Train's Lucena guide will carry them once they are confirmed.
Sources
- Quezon opens its Christmas season (Paskong Quezonian 2025), Sentinel Times
- Popular mall in Lucena lights giant Christmas tree, Manila Bulletin
- Fire brings down 56-foot Christmas tree at Lucena park, Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Christmas mood at Quezon's park offers comfort to typhoon-weary public, Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Paskong Quezonian 2024 lighting ceremony pinasinayaan sa Lucena, GMA Network
- Get Lost in the Lights of Perez Park, The Luzonian