It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Ripon.

The Ripon Chamber of Commerce said just that about Monday’s 13th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of the Ripon Historical Society Veterans Museum.

With temperatures in the 50s – the nearby Bank of Stockton digital sign had it 59 degrees during this time of the early evening – community members, city employees and dignitaries, and special guests mixed and mingled while enjoying hot chocolate prior to the tree lighting.

“This is quite a crowd,” said Mayor Leo Zuber. “I’m glad that the weather cooperated.”

He also recognized city employees for their efforts in decorating and putting up the string of lights on the towering evergreen.

“Each light on the tree is in honor of a loved one,” said guest Rebecca Burnett, who is the CEO of the Hospice of San Joaquin.

The Ripon Tree Lighting is held in held in conjunction with the Hospice of San Joaquin ceremonies – Ripon is one of eight cities across the county where similar ceremonies are taking place.

Included are the Memory boards with the listing of names of those recognized by the lights on the tree. According to Burnett, the tree lighting events are about “love, hope and remembrance.”

The Ripon High band and choir performed songs of yuletide during their opening and closing numbers while Miss Ripon 2024 Kamal Preet Kaur had the honor of turning the switch to light up the community Christmas tree.

Before that, Pastor Rex Rodgers of Ripon Grace Church gave the invocation followed by Zuber and Chamber CEO Kelly Donohue sharing a few words to kick-off the holiday season in Ripon.

“The tree is symbol around town of the Christmas season that runs from now through Dec. 25,” Zuber added.

Special guests included San Joaquin County 5th Supervisor Robert Rickman and his wife, Karen.