A tree lighting is one of the oldest holiday traditions there is: the crowd counts down, someone flips the switch, and the tree lights up. Adding a laser show to a Christmas tree lighting keeps that tradition and makes the big moment much bigger. Beams sweep the sky at the exact second the tree comes on, the music hits, and the whole crowd reacts together.
Electric Holiday Miami designs tree lighting shows for town squares, shopping centers, churches, schools and community clubhouses across South Florida.
How a tree lighting laser show is structured
The best tree lightings feel like a story with a beginning, a build-up and a payoff. A typical run of show looks like this:
- Arrival (30–60 minutes). Holiday music and soft colored lighting on the tree area while guests arrive, find a spot and visit vendors.
- Program (15–30 minutes). Welcome remarks, a performance by a local choir or dance group, and recognition of sponsors.
- Countdown (1–2 minutes). Lights dim, the host leads the crowd, and lasers begin to build in the sky.
- The lighting. The tree lights up and the main laser show starts, timed to a holiday song.
- Celebration (10–20 minutes). A longer laser and music segment while families take photos in front of the tree.
Timing the reveal
The magic of a tree lighting depends on everything happening at once. That means the tree’s lighting circuit, the sound system and the laser show need to be cued together. We work with whoever controls the tree lights, whether that’s your electrician, a decorating company or your own facilities team, so the switch, the music and the lasers all fire on the same beat.
Picking music
Music sets the tone. A classic carol makes the moment feel traditional and warm. A modern holiday hit or an electronic remix makes it feel like a party. Some events use both: a classic for the lighting itself and an upbeat track for the celebration that follows. If you have a choir or band performing, we can build the show around their set.
Where the lasers go
For a tree lighting, the tree is the star, so we place the laser projectors to frame it rather than compete with it. Beams fan out above and behind the tree, so photos taken from the crowd capture both. Projectors sit in a secured area with a clear path over the audience, and beams stay above head height. Our explainer on how laser light shows work goes into how beams, haze and projector placement create the effect.
Indoor vs. outdoor tree lightings
Most South Florida tree lightings are outdoors, which gives the lasers room to reach full size. Indoor lightings in atriums, ballrooms or churches can still use lasers, but the show is designed differently. Ceilings limit beam length, and haze levels have to be managed with the venue’s smoke detectors and HVAC in mind. Tell us early which kind of space you have.
Who books tree lighting shows
- Cities and towns opening the holiday season in a downtown square
- Shopping centers using the lighting to kick off weekend holiday events
- Churches combining the lighting with a Christmas program
- Schools making it part of a winter festival
- HOAs and communities lighting the clubhouse tree with neighbors
Planning checklist
- Confirm the date, and a rain date
- Decide who flips the switch, whether that’s a mayor, a pastor, a principal or a lucky child
- Choose the lighting song and confirm performers
- Map the tree, stage, audience area and power
- Check local permit requirements and federal outdoor laser rules
- Promote the countdown time so people arrive before it starts
For a full week-by-week plan, see our holiday event planning timeline.
Make this year’s tree lighting the one people remember
If you’re hosting a tree lighting, tell us your date, location and crowd size. Our team from Nation Wide Sound DJ’s can also provide the sound, MC, stage lighting and video to run the whole program. See the Electric Holiday show on our homepage.