Rockin’ around the Christmas tree in downtown Modesto

We all know the holidays rock, and in Modesto beginning on Saturday, Dec. 5, the season gets a little extra jangle in its jingle.

The Rockin’ Holidays celebration returns for a second year to downtown’s Tenth Street Place, geared to evoke an old-school feeling from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. Organizer Chris Murphy combined Modesto’s “American Graffiti” and rockabilly music connections for the events.

“We are so excited to bring the history of our downtown Modesto Christmas traditions back to Tenth Street Place and celebrate our rockin’ and cruisin’ history,” Murphy said in an email.

The parties kick off Saturday as part of a huge day-into-night city celebration; the Celebration of Lights Parade begins at 5:30 p.m., leading to the lighting of the Christmas tree and Rockin’ Holiday kickoff. The parties continue with music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through Dec. 19, along with falling “snow” and retro decorations.

In addition to feting the season, Rockin’ Holidays is geared to help drive people downtown to frequent its local businesses.

“We really want to show people that downtown will be a great place to be this holiday season,” Murphy said.

New this year will be a 50-foot tree, set up for Saturday’s community tree lighting; it will be set aglow after Modesto’s Celebration of Lights Parade, with Mayor Garrad Marsh doing the honors along with “Rockin’ Santa and the Rockin’ Elves,” Murphy said.

“This will really help make the downtown experience in the plaza so much more magical, along with the snow, lights, music, the North Pole, etc.,” he said. “We will also be lighting all of the trees in Tenth Street Place and along 10th Street with a path to (the new ice rink) Modesto on Ice.”

Murphy also promises some updates for the Rockin’ North Pole set up at Tenth Street Place, as well as “enhanced snow flurries.” Rockin’ Holidays also will be part of the Spirit of Giving Festival and run on Dec. 12 and a huge “Star Wars” premiere party Dec. 17. The decorations will be up through New Year’s Day.

Bands lined up for the weekly events are:

▪ Dec. 5: Tony Trevino and Tiffany Rose Band

▪ Dec 10: Greasehound

▪ Dec 11: Love Core

▪ Dec 12: Rockin’ Rick & the Rhythm Wranglers and Johnny Devil & His Sins

▪ Dec 17: LodgePole Pickers and Gottschalk’s Band for “Star Wars” night

▪ Dec 18: Greasehound

▪ Dec 19: Rockin’ Rick & the Rhythm Wranglers and Johnny Devil & His Sins

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 10:21 AM with the headline "Rockin’ around the Christmas tree in downtown Modesto."