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Hayward's 'Light of the Season' returns to City Hall with student performances and community countdown
Summary
Hayward City brought back its annual "Light of the Season" tree-lighting ceremony at the City Hall rotunda and plaza, featuring student singers and dancers, brief public greetings, and a community-led countdown before the tree lighting.
Hayward's annual "Light of the Season" tree-lighting ceremony and holiday festival returned to the City Hall rotunda and plaza, with a presenter announcing a performance stage that included student singers and dancers and other community acts.
The presenter said the traditional tree-lighting ceremony is intended to "observe the various celebrations of light in the dark winter months, creating a space for Hayward's diverse communities to celebrate their wintertime traditions together." That framing underscored the event's aim to be inclusive and celebratory rather than a formal municipal meeting.
Attendees contributed to the festive atmosphere. A resident-style participant greeted the crowd, saying, "Happy holidays, Hayward. I came all the way from the North Pole just to see you. This is a great event." Another meeting participant shouted, "Happy holidays to everyone. Shout out to Hayward for hosting this event. We're having a lot of fun here. We're about to go on this ferris wheel. Wish me luck." These remarks highlighted family-friendly attractions and informal public engagement at the festival.
The moderator thanked the crowd for coming and led the audience in a countdown to the tree lighting: "Five 4 3 2 1 — Boom." The moment concluded with collective holiday greetings: "Happy holidays. Merry Christmas everybody."
The excerpted program focused on performances and community participation; no formal actions, votes, or policy decisions were recorded in the provided transcript.
