How office banter sparked a festive tradition: Light Up the Night returns

Following a successful debut last year, Light Up the Night returns this Friday 28 November to officially launch Napier’s festive season.

What started as a casual office conversation, “When do the Emerson Street Christmas tree lights switch on, and why don’t we make it a community experience?” soon sparked the idea to create a new tradition for Napier. And from that conversation, Light Up the Night was born.

As planning took shape last year, one idea quickly stood out: giving a local family the honour of lighting the tree. A custom big red button was made locally, and became a bit of a star in its own right, especially for last year’s winner, Darcie, with her mum describing the experience as a moment she’ll never forget.

With the hunt to find this year’s family now underway, dozens of heartfelt nominations are already coming through. Parents share why the moment would mean so much, from Christmas-obsessed little ones to families hoping to create a bright memory after a tough year. It’s the quality of the entries that really stands out, with many calling it “magical”, “once-in-a-lifetime”, and a moment their children would remember forever.

This free, family-friendly evening features an expanded entertainment schedule in response to last year’s fantastic turnout. This year’s programme includes live performances from St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College, Kaden Hura-McIntosh, Storm in a D Cup and Ella Pollett, along with roving entertainment, free face painting, the bubbleman, Christmas fairies, an interactive mural and a 360 photobooth.

Santa will also be onsite from 7:15pm to 8:30pm, before the crowd gathers for the countdown to light the tree just after sunset.

“The idea originally came from chatting about those big city tree lightings like Rockefeller, but very much the Napier edition,” says Pip Thompson, General Manager at Napier City Business Inc. “Seeing that idea come to life last year with the whole crowd calling out from ten and the winning family hitting the big red button was quite magical. It showed there’s a real appetite for moments that bring our community together for the festive season, especially a shared countdown and giant bright Christmas tree.”

This year’s event also lines up with Black Friday, and the CBD is offering free parking all day (conditions apply) – a nice bonus for anyone heading into town. It’s the perfect chance to make a day of it: check out the sales in the afternoon, grab a bite at one of the great local eateries, and then wander over to the 5pm kickoff. With live performances, entertainment and activities running right through to the countdown, there’s plenty to enjoy in between.

This year also marks a new partnership with Unison Networks (Unison), the region’s electricity distributor, who are helping us quite literally power the night, and supporting the tree lighting moment. Their sponsorship reflects Unison’s commitment to powering vibrant, connected communities and supporting events that align with its wellbeing, sustainability and economic development goals.

“Unison is proud to be part of Napier’s story, and Light up the Night is a wonderful way to celebrate that connection. This event reflects our focus on people and community, creating moments that bring whānau together while supporting local businesses and making our region shine,” says Rachel Masters, Group General Manager People, Safety and Culture at Unison.

We’re also proud to continue our long-standing support from Alexander Development and Napier City Council, whose ongoing commitment plays a huge role in making our free community events possible.

And returning once again is The Hits Hawke’s Bay, with Adam & Megan hosting the evening and The Hits team managing the competition to find the lucky family who will get to flick the switch to light up the tree. The prize includes a $500 Napier CBD voucher to kickstart their Christmas.

This event is Weather dependent with a backup date of Friday 5 December, 2025. For any updates, please check the @napiercity Facebook page.

Proudly brought to you by Napier City Business Inc., with support from Napier City Council, Unison, Alexander Development, and The Hits Hawke’s Bay.