Los Angeles Union Station is about to turn its grand Ticket Concourse into a holiday stage once again. The downtown transit hub will host its 11th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., a free event that kicks off the station's run of seasonal decor and programming from Nov. 19 through Dec. 27.
The celebration takes place inside the historic Ticket Concourse at 800 N. Alameda St., according to a news release distributed via PR Newswire. Author and entertainer Charles Phoenix, known for his mid-century pop culture expertise, will host the free, family-friendly evening, and as MyNewsLA.com reports, Santa Claus and his elves will lead the countdown to illuminate the station's signature 30-foot Christmas tree.
Music will carry much of the night. Los Angeles-based Mariachi Ausente opens the event, handing things off to a headline set from the 10-piece jazz ensemble Lizzy & the Triggermen, per the release. Beyond the music, organizers have planned a cookie counter serving sweet treats, stilt walkers roaming the concourse in festive costumes, and photo opportunities with Santa.
Jeff Brown on Union Station's Role as a Gathering Place
Jeff Brown, vice president and general manager of Morlin Asset Management at Los Angeles Union Station, framed the ceremony as a longstanding civic tradition. “For 11 years, the Union Station Tree Lighting Ceremony has brought Angelenos together,” Brown said, per the same PR Newswire release. He also said the station's partnership with Metro strengthens its role as a cultural landmark, community gathering place and what he called the living room of Los Angeles.
The tree lighting is just the opening night of a much longer holiday run. Decorations will stay up from Nov. 19 through Dec. 27, including illuminated exterior palm trees, a wreath on the Clock Tower, and oversized wreaths, ornaments and lights throughout the historic interior, the release states. Christmas trees are planned for both the Waiting Room and South Patio, and a menorah will be displayed in observance of Hanukkah.
South Patio Tree, Band Performances and Guided Tours
The South Patio and its own 30-foot tree are scheduled to be open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., though the release notes those dates and hours are subject to change. Commuters and visitors can also expect to hear the Salvation Army Band performing during the workweek throughout the holiday season, continuing a tradition that saw the band play in the Passenger Concourse on weekday mornings during the 2023 season, according to Union Station Los Angeles.
For those who want a deeper dive into the building itself, the Los Angeles Conservancy will offer 90-minute evening tours of Union Station's architecture and holiday decor, with advance registration required. The Conservancy describes the walk as covering the majority of the station, from the famous Waiting Room to the Fred Harvey Restaurant, much of it dressed up for the season, per the Los Angeles Conservancy.
A Landmark Built for Crowds, Then and Now
Union Station has been hosting Angelenos since it opened in 1939, blending Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco architectural styles that still define its look today. The station also functions as a major transit hub, serving Metro Rail, Metro buses, Metrolink, Amtrak and other regional services, making it an easy stop for visitors heading downtown for the festivities.
This isn't the station's first run at large-scale holiday programming. Last year's 10th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, held Nov. 20, 2025, was likewise free for all ages with no tickets required, according to Union Station's own event listing. Earlier seasonal events have followed a similar formula of free family activities; the 2021 Holiday Festival & Artisan Market, for instance, brought more than 30 vendors and free children's activities to the South Patio from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Full event details and registration information for this year's tree lighting and related programming are available at unionstationla.com/happenings.
