LIVE: H-E-B tree lighting celebration in Travis Park underway

Tree to be illuminated at 6:20 p.m.

SAN ANTONIO – The 33rd annual H-E-B Christmas Tree Lighting celebration will go on rain or shine on Friday.

For the first time in years, the tree will be illuminated at Travis Park instead of Alamo Plaza.

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The 55-foot white fir tree is a Christmas gift from H-E-B to the city and will be adorned with more than 10,000 red lights and dozens of gold and silver handmade ornaments on Friday.

The holiday event kicks off at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. Former San Antonio Spurs player Matt Bonner will emcee the event.

Kids will get to write letters to Santa and decorate cookies, along with other holiday crafts.

"You can come get your get your photo taken in a snow globe, decorate gingerbread men, write your letters to Santa, who may or not be there later that night to help light the tree," H-E-B spokeswoman Julie Bedingfield said.

H-E-B spent more than $250,000 for the transportation, decorations and lighting of the tree.

The tree was grown in the Shasta Mountains in northern California.

The tree will be lit at 6:20 p.m. and remain in Travis Park through the holiday season.


About the Authors:

Erica Hernandez is an Emmy award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in the broadcast news business. Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. She's currently the court reporter and cohost of the podcast Texas Crime Stories.