About 15,000 lights will switch on as Santa Claus arrives at the Main Plaza tonight for the 41st annual tree lighting in New Braunfels.
The main plaza will be closed to traffic by 5 p.m. and the Comal County Courthouse bells will ring at 5:50 p.m. for ten minutes until the Comal Community Band breaks into holiday song.
“Around 6:20 p.m., we’ll start the program and we’ll flip the switch around 6:30 p.m., and Santa should be parked at the fire station and on his way by then down W. San Antonio Street,” said New Braunfels Mayor Bruce Boyer.
Two crews from New Braunfels Utilities continued to work on the lights Thursday, making sure they were secure and ready to go all the way up the upper limbs of the trees on the square.
“They will stay up until Jan. 4,” said Gretchen Reuwer, communications manager for NBU.
Once Santa arrives at the Main Plaza and the lights switch on, the music will keep playing while Santa fields Christmas wish lists from a line of children.
The New Braunfels High School Steel Drum Band will take the stage after the Comal Community Band, followed later in the evening by Chuck Reininger.
Tamales, handmade pizza rolls, hot chocolate and lemonade will be for sale from concessions operated by the New Braunfels Downtown Association.
“The whole downtown lighting is a joint effort between the Downtown Association, New Braunfels Parks Department and NBU,” said Stacey Laird Dicke, director of the New Braunfels Parks Department.
Laird said about 2,000 people are expected to attend. Because the loop connecting San Antonio Street, Landa Street and Seguin Avenue will be closed, expect to park and walk two or more blocks away from the Main Plaza.
