A season of lights and celebrations

Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa is the place to gather today beginning at noon and culminating in the annual Tree Lighting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The tree graces the square throughout the year, but during the holiday season, it is the lighted centerpiece to a downtown that sparkles with white lights.

The tree lighting ends a day full of activities, as merchants draw crowds with discounts and music from the Santa Rosa Children's Chorus and The Susan Comstock Swingtet.

From 5 to 6 p.m., get photos with Santa, make holiday cards, enjoy a children's museum, magician, hot chocolate, cookies, cupcakes and eggnog.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the tree-lighting program begins with a storyteller, candle lighting, the tree lighting and band performance.

Other tree lightings to watch for:

Geyserville Plaza

Saturday, 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Geyserville. It's the lighting of olive trees. Santa will arrive, carol singing led by Geyserville Christian Singers. Tasting rooms, shops and restaurants will be open and refreshments served.

Healdsburg Town Plaza

Sunday, 5 p.m. Performances by the Windsor/Healdsburg Children's Chorus and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Choir. Decorate and raffle a holiday tree, holiday cardmaking, a candle lighting and spruce tree lighting.

Cotati

Wednesday, 6 p.m. Cotati launches four days of town celebration with its holiday tree lighting. Gather in La Plaza Park for carols and the tree lighting. Then proceed to the fire station across the street for cookies, cocoa, cider, holiday music and a visit from Santa.

Guerneville Plaza

Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m. Guerneville's downtown businesses are hosting a holiday open house with hors d'eourves and refreshments. Tree-lighting ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. at the plaza next to the pedestrian bridge with performances by schoolchildren.

Sebastopol Plaza

Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. At the Downtown Plaza, it's the traditional lighting of the holiday tree, Santa's arrival on a Sebastopol fire truck and pictures with Santa. Musical entertainment, cookie decorating, craft projects for children, hot chocolate and a sing-a-long.

Windsor Town Green

Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. Windsor hosts its holiday celebration. From 5 to 7 p.m., Windsor schoolchildren will perform. Tree lighting with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus is at 6:15 p.m. Throughout the evening, enjoy an elves' crafts workshop for children, trolley tours of downtown, carolers. Also, children's polar-express train rides ($1), carriage rides ($1) and photos with Santa ($9).