The annual Burbank Town Center tree-lighting evening on the mall’s dining terrace — the holiday tree sparks to life, costumed characters greet families, hot festive beverages and ornament-decorating stations spread across the terrace, and the indoor mall transforms into a winter wonderland with photo ops throughout. Free, family-friendly, indoor-friendly weather backup.
The annual Burbank Town Center Tree Lighting opens the holiday season at the dining terrace of Burbank Town Center, the downtown Burbank indoor regional mall at 201 East Magnolia Boulevard. The free evening turns the terrace and the connecting mall corridors into a holiday celebration.
Themed costumed characters circulate, Santa arrives to light the holiday tree at the ceremony moment, hot festive beverages flow at the terrace bar, and ornament-decorating stations invite kids to create a keepsake to hang on the mall’s community tree. The indoor mall is decked top to bottom — photo ops along the three-level enclosed center, festive music in the corridors, and the mall’s dome glittering above center court.
For families across Burbank — the Rancho District, the Magnolia Park neighborhood, the foothill blocks — and east San Fernando Valley cities, this is the season’s first major holiday gathering. Distinct from the Mayor’s Tree Lighting at the City Hall steps (the civic-center ceremony) and the longer outdoor Holiday in the Park at Magnolia Park street festival.
At 201 East Magnolia Boulevard in downtown Burbank — the open dining terrace sits between the mall’s three-level enclosed center and the AMC theater complex, with views toward the east San Fernando Valley.
On a Thursday evening in mid-to-late November. The tree lights at the ceremony moment; festive activities continue across the evening.
Yes — the event itself is free to attend. Purchases at the mall’s shops, restaurants, and dining-terrace vendors are paid separately.
Free at the Burbank Town Center garages and surface lots (over 2,800 parking spaces). The garages closest to the dining terrace fill first; the San Fernando Boulevard-facing structures usually have space.
It’s the mall’s annual tree-lighting kickoff, returning each holiday season as the official start of the Burbank Town Center holiday programming (Santa visits, holiday décor, photo ops, and seasonal activities) that runs through Christmas Eve.
Burbank Town Center at 201 East Magnolia Boulevard is downtown Burbank’s three-level enclosed regional mall — a 1991-built shopping center anchored by Macy’s, Burlington, and an AMC theater, with a dining terrace, central court dome, and over 2,800 free parking spaces across multiple structures. The mall sits at the western edge of downtown Burbank and connects to the city’s San Fernando Boulevard commercial spine via skybridge and street-level walkways.
The City of Burbank’s official outdoor holiday decorating contest — residents enter their decorated homes, the city publishes an annual OurBurbank Holiday Destination Guide with about 30 routed addresses, and families drive a curated route from one side of Burbank to the other to see the entries. Free, self-paced, and runs the full holiday season.
Brian J. Cook
Burbank’s official municipal holiday kickoff on the front steps of Burbank City Hall — the Mayor opens the ceremony, the City Council hosts, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive (often on a Burbank Fire Department truck strung with lights), local performing groups bring music, and the City Hall holiday tree shines to life. Free, family-friendly, and held in the downtown Burbank civic core.
Brian J. Cook
Giant glowing animal lanterns light up the Los Angeles Zoo — elephants, butterflies, peacocks, and dragons — across an after-hours holiday walk-through that runs from November through early January.
Brian J. Cook
Burbank’s 30-plus-year community Holiday in the Park festival along Magnolia Boulevard — tree lighting, holiday music, carnival games, bounce houses, food trucks, and the Magnolia Park business community’s street takeover.
Brian J. Cook
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
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Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Southern California, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
This is a quick availability check, not a booking. Nothing is reserved and nothing is owed until we’ve confirmed your date and you’ve placed your retainer.
