The holiday spirit is officially taking over San Francisco, with the towering 90-foot Christmas tree at Thrive City gearing up to twinkle in all its festive glory. Today's Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by Kaiser Permanente, promises to light up the Bay Area's largest tree in a celebratory homage to the season. According to an event listing on Chase Center’s website, the event promises live music from R&B singer Montell Jordan and a special appearance by Golden State Warriors legend Festus Ezeli.

Thrive City has also announced the activation of its Entertainment Zone. In this space, individuals over the age of 21 can purchase to-go alcoholic beverages from local businesses and sip them as they wander. As reported by NBC Bay Area, this move comes post-legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener, which permits cities to carve out such zones, invigorating economic activity and marking a cornerstone of Mayor London Breed's strategy to bring new life to downtown areas.

The tree lighting ceremony, which runs from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, adheres to a strict no-nonsense policy on prohibited items. Chase Center Management warns against weapons, outside alcohol, all non-surgical masks, barring a few exceptions for face paint, and other items that could be buzzkills to the safe environment they aim to foster. Moreover, as articulated on the Chase Center's event page, trained service animals are the only pets permitted on the premises, and even then, they need to be on a leash unless this impedes their duties or the owner's disability.

The festivities continue beyond the tree lighting as the Warriors face off against the Phoenix Suns and will be aired for fans to enjoy in the same zone. The new entertainment zones like Thrive City are pretty fresh on the San Francisco scene, now bustling during Warriors and Valkyries basketball games, concerts, holidays, and numerous other events. In essence, it’s become a hub for the community to gather, celebrate, and witness live events unfold, encapsulated by the towering evergreen as its seasonal centerpiece.

Those looking to attend should note that registration through Eventbrite is encouraged and given priority access. However, if the online list fills up, limited walk-up registrations are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event. For a full breakdown of the event specifics and general guidelines, be prepared by checking Chase Center's official event page.