• Sensory Tent: The City is excited to partner with Visit Vacaville to offer a Sensory Tent. More details and location information to come.
• Sales Welcome at the NEW Merry Market: For years this event prohibited selling and soliciting for business or memberships on the sidewalks or streets – Not anymore! Businesses wishing to sell food or merchandise are now welcome to submit a vendor application and pay a fee to be part of the NEW Merry Market that will be hosted at the CreekWalk Plaza. Fees are as follows: $247 for food sales, $165 for non-food, plus additional fees for any vendors needing more than 10' x10' of space. The Merry Market will be located in a specific area, so as not to confuse with the giveaways offered by community groups down Main Street.
• Kid Zone and Winter Walkway: Leading into the Merry Market there will be two new areas. The Kid Zone at the CreekWalk where Santa will be waiting to take all your holiday wishes. There you will find fun games, crafts, and more. At the other end, where the bridge connects School Street and E. Monte Vista Ave you will find the Winter Walkway lit up from top to bottom creating a worthy Instagram photo opportunity perfect for posting - snow included!
• Viewing Areas: There are two new viewing areas to check out. One at the top of the Kid Zone and the other on the corner of Dobbins and Main Streets. Avoid the crowds and watch the tree lighting from one of these convenient screens.

In the theme of safety and due to excessively heavy crowding on Main Street with eventgoers eager to see the Tree Lighting up close and personal the City is implementing new safety precautions. The aim is to offer a more enjoyable and safer experience:

• No Stopping Zone: Similar to the happiest place on earth, the sidewalks on Main Street between Merchant and Davis Streets will be “No Stopping Zones.”  While in this zone, please be aware that foot traffic must keep flowing.
• Viewing Zone: The closed street area will be designated as the “Viewing Zone” where community members and visitors may stand and watch the lighting of the 2024 Holiday Tree. 
• Livestream: Two onsite, large live stream screens will be offered in Town Square and on the corner of Main Street and Dobbins. For those unable to attend, this year the main event will also be streamed to the City’s YouTube channel @CityofVacaville. 
• Accessible Viewing Area: Located on Davis Street facing the Tree, community members who need seating accommodation may enter the roped off area along with one companion.  Please note, if there is an overwhelming need companions will be asked to give up their seat to make room for those in need. The seating area will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until 6:15 PM at which time it will close for the Tree Lighting. 

The tree lighting event began in 1983 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of City’s local newspaper, The Reporter. As a way of saying thank you to his hometown for a century of support, then publisher Richard Rico created and gifted the Main Street three-flag monument to the community, leaving space and a receptacle in the center for a tree lighting ceremony.

Starting in 2018, the tree lighting ceremony was turned over to Merriment on Main, Inc., a domestic non-profit organization, which was operated by the community with a Board of Directors of local volunteers and civic leaders. In 2020 and 2021, Merriment on Main, Inc. took a two-year hiatus of the tree lighting ceremony due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The tree lighting ceremony returned for the 40th Anniversary in 2022. Beginning in 2023, the City of Vacaville is assuming management of this traditional event.