The 2016 holiday season will kick-off as hundreds of families will join together to light-up Tree of Lights throughout San Joaquin County. This year Hospice of San Joaquin’s Tree of Lights program is in its 28th year of helping area families honor a loved one on one of the eight trees of lights.

Escalon’s tree will be lit Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. The tree lighting will be hosted by the City of Escalon and Escalon Chamber of Commerce. The tree is located at Main Street Park, corner of Main and Second streets.

Tree of Lights offers the community an opportunity to memorialize a loved one no longer with us, or to honor a person who holds a special place in your heart. “Light up a Light … Light up a Life!” has become a traditional holiday event in San Joaquin County. The eight trees will be lit in the period between Nov. 19 and Dec. 3. The lighting ceremonies are made possible by partnerships between Hospice of San Joaquin with government, nonprofit agencies, businesses and community members. Each Tree of Lights is independently arranged and lit with the warmth of each community.

Donation(s) to light up the tree includes listing of the name(s) along the Memory Boards at the base of the Tree. Names are updated twice at all locations throughout December and trees remain lit until Dec. 31.

Tree of Lights is made possible thanks to the individual community hosts, and the Pacific Gas & Electric employee volunteers who decorate the trees and support the logistics of the Tree of Lights.

To dedicate a light in memory or honor of a loved one, or for details about any of the upcoming Tree of Lights events, call (209) 957-3888 or visit www.hospicesj.org/treeoflights.