Chocolate and Lights!

What is the first day that you start thinking about Christmas? I know for most, it’s the day after Thanksgiving. This is the first day that most pull out the Christmas lights, go tree shopping or start to hang their stockings. This year you can celebrate the beginning of holiday spirit at the 47^th Annual Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting. It is all happening November 25, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

Enjoy free, live entertainment for the entire family throughout the day culminating with the lighting of the Ghirardelli Square tree. It is the perfect opportunity to get together with the family to kick off the holiday season.

Before the tree lighting there will be live entertainment from the San Francisco City Opera, Contra Coastal Chorale and even Yuletide Carolers.

Walk around listening to the singing, viewing the tree and of course tasting the chocolate that San Francisco is known for. Enjoy hot chocolate with your family and friends while walking around the square.

Ghirardelli Square

Rising on a hill across the street are the brick buildings of Ghirardelli Square, once a chocolate factory. Historical plaques tell the history of Domingo Ghirardelli who came to California to prospect gold but ended up becoming the king of chocolate. The Chocolate Manufactory & Soda Fountain still makes chocolate with the original old

fashioned machines and few can resist enjoying a luscious ice cream sundae with chocolate on top or a cup of hot chocolate.

Ghirardelli Square is also filled with shops, selling everything from apparel to folk art. With their hilltop location, the restaurants are known for million dollar views as well as spectacular cuisine.