Westfield on Weekends (WOW) DecemberFest, Westfield’s annual holiday celebration will mix some popular traditional offerings with exciting new elements and the exciting offerings at the WOW Center: Mark this webpage for the most up-to-date information!
More details for each event can be found on their individual pages. Click the event name to learn more.
Roots Athletic Center, 181 Root Road
Westfield on Weekends 8th Annual Tree Jubilee is a special fundraiser that supports WOW’s community programming. For the 5th year, it is taking place online, as well as at Roots Athletic Center, where visitors may view a wonderland of trees, and wreaths donated by area individuals, businesses and organizations. Tickets may only be purchased and submitted online. Winners will be drawn on December 3 at 11:59 pm, notified on December 4 and may be picked up on December 6. All proceeds from this event help to fund future WOW events.
Enter our Tree Jubilee Raffle: Buy tickets online and choose which trees or wreaths to win!
Westfield-West Springfield Elks Lodge #1481, 56 Franklin Street
FREE with toy or coat donation. Registration required, click here.
WOW in association with the Elks, LPT Realty, Axia Insurance, Results in Wellness and Bacon & Wilson hosts a cozy holiday breakfast, filled with surprises. The cozy event benefits It Takes a Village of Western Massachusetts and Project New Hope of Westfield, non-profits that are battling the food insecurity crisis in our region. The first 100 families will be entered into a raffle for a $250 holiday basket. Santa, Mrs. Claus, photos and lotsa surprises! Admission is a toy or coat donation!
Elm Street Plaza
Free admission. Shop Local Saturday will feature the Mayor’s Tree Lighting of the 20-foot community tree at Elm Street Plaza in the heart of Westfield’s official downtown Cultural District. A city tradition for decades, Mayor Mike McCabe will host the festivities that will feature caroling with the Westfield High School Show Choir and the WHS Pep Band. Hot chocolate will be provided by Mt. Moriah Lodge. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a very special arrival, followed by the opportunity for youngsters to visit with them. Prior to and after the festivities, attendees are encouraged to do some gift shopping and to discover the special DecemberFest cocktails and menu items, available at nearby District restaurants and pubs.
The WOW Center, 105 Elm Street
For anyone who wishes to be creative this holiday season, WOW will once again offer an opportunity. Presented by artisan Chris Lyons of Glass Visions of Springfield, with our Holiday Stained-Glass workshop. Participants will leave with their own stained glass suncatcher. Lyons’ classes and workshops have been a staple of arts programming at the Center for several years. Registration fees are $65 for the Stained-Glass workshop, including the materials needed.
For registrations and more information, call the Center at 413-579-5967 and/or visit the event page here.
The WOW Center, 105 Elm Street
The 4th Annual Children’s Holiday Ball with the Arendale Snow Queen and the Bayou Beauty from New Orleans will create memories for families Friday, December 5, as they host a gathering that celebrates diversity, friendship and respect. As part of the Center’s popular Cupcakes, Cookies and Community series for children aged 3 to 8 years of age, the party will feature music, stories, songs, games, and holiday treats. Reservations may be made at the Center, by calling the Center at 413-579-5967. Tickets are $20 for one parent and one child and $5 for each additional child.
Reservation Link Coming Soon!
The WOW Center, 105 Elm Street
Free admission. WOW’s Monday Bingo series delivers a special holiday family edition with treats, surprises and games that award the lucky winners with good fun and perhaps some unexpected pocket money (for adults) or gift cards (for children). All proceeds benefit WOW programming at the Center.
Free Admission
A FREE, low-pressure, DecemberFest open mic night welcoming all who love prose and poetry. Authors, poets and writers of every skill level are invited to share a 3–5-minute piece for WOW’s debut of its newest series celebrating the spoken word, produced with the Straw Dog’s Writers Guild and WhipCity Wordsmiths.
This month’s suggested theme is “The Holidays”. Readers sign up on a first-come basis, when the doors open. Be an audience member or perhaps share your favorite fiction/non-fiction or poetry selection. Beverages available. Right on!!!!
The WOW Center, 105 Elm Street
Free admission. Families are sure to love the North Pole Toy Shop at the WOW Center, as part of ArtWorks Westfield’s festive WinterWalk (11am-3pm). Amidst the twinkling lights of WOW’s “Winter Wonderland” exhibit/installation, participants are able to take photos with Santa and Mrs Claus; have a cocoa and holiday treats; create a holiday card and craft and perhaps meet a famous Toy or three. It’s a fine celebration of winter holidays throughout the world, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
Ceremony at Elm Street Plaza,
Hanukkah Party at First United Methodist 16 Court Street (following ceremony)
Free admission. Rabbi Shahar Colt of the Congregation Ahavas Achim will light the seventh candle of the Community Menorah to celebrate the seventh evening of Hanukkah. Prayer, songs and special words mark this city tradition, which is followed by a festive party in the Community Room of First United Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the latkes, games, stories and songs of this city tradition.
Throughout Westfield neighborhoods
The 5th Annual Holiday Lights Tour offers families the opportunity to take a self-guided drive-by tour of the city’s outdoor holiday displays. View the map here and on WOW’s Facebook page, where Westfield residents may also register their homes and businesses. To join the tour register homes and businesses at Westfield on Weekends Facebook page.
We are still adding addresses, but you can view the map so far here.
Free admission. WOW and Westfield State University once gain team up for the 2025 DecemberFest edition of their popular concerts series that celebrates the talented student musicians, alumni and faculty of the university. This year’s program spotlights jazz, Broadway, classical, pop and representatives of the region’s burgeoning “Do It Yourself” movement.
Westfield State University, 577 Western Avenue
This year’s calendar of free holiday concerts produced with the Music Department of Westfield State as part of WOW’s Up Close and Musical series/will take place at the beautiful Dever Stage of Parenzo Hall throughout the month. They include:
The WOW Center, 105 Elm Street
Free admission. The WOW Center becomes a magical wintry wonderland. Its walls offer the art of regional professional artists inspired by the lyrics of the tunes, “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride.” The gallery space evokes the New England countryside as imagined by co-curator/artist James Johnson-Corwin, providing a perfect backdrop for all the wonderful family activities at the Center and the opportunity to purchase some beautiful art to brighten every season.
Tribeca Gastro Pub & Grille, 89 Elm Street
Stunning portraits are on the menu! WOW and Tribeca Gastro Pub & Grille join forces to feature photographs on the popular restaurant’s walls from two of the WOW Center’s past exhibits spotlighting the photographic art of Bill Hughes. The exhibit displays selected photos from the original “Journey Stories: Faces of Westfield” exhibit of 2024 that celebrated folks from all over the world who now call Westfield home and from the “Essence of Aging” exhibit of 2025 that honored our neighbors over 80 years of age, who enrich the diversity and vitality of our community.
If you are interested in joining us as part of DecemberFest 2025's planning group, please email Kathi or (413) 222-4553.
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DecemberFest 2025 activities are produced and/or hosted by Westfield On Weekends (WOW) in association with Westfield State University and the City of Westfield.
Sponsors include: Westfield G & E/Whip City Fiber; bankESB; M&T Bank; Westfield Bank; Baystate Health; Firtion-Adams Funeral Services; Downtown Westfield Cultural District; City of Westfield; Westfield State University; Reminder Publishing; The Sullivan Family: Lisa Oleksak-Sullivan/Coldwell Banker Realty; Richard K. Sullivan, Jr. and Attorney Richard "Kick" Sullivan III; The Queenin Family;
Funding in part with grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Westfield Cultural Council and Shurtleff Children’s Service, Inc.
Westfield on Weekends, Inc (WOW) is a 501 (c)(3) volunteer not-for-profit organization, founded in 2003 to produce diverse, accessible and affordable events that enhance and celebrate diversity and community life in Westfield.
