Last December, Continental Square was ready by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. The evening had a holiday reading, a Hanukkah presentation, the tree lighting, family karaoke and food vendors. Santa was set up down the street at Martin Library. On Dec. 31 the square filled up again for food trucks, live music, the midnight White Rose drop and fireworks.
Both nights were free, and both had named corporate sponsors. For 2026, the City of York has written that model into the terms it set for whoever produces the events: every dollar comes from corporate donations and booth fees. With a month left before December, that producer hadn't been named on the City's procurement page, and the City hadn't posted a 2026 date for either event.
What Last December Was Built From
Each event had its own funders, and they're named in the City's announcements. Here's how the 2025 season came together.
| Light Up York 2025 | New Year's Eve 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Dec. 5, 2025 | Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Location | Continental Square, with Santa at Martin Library | Continental Square |
| Named funders | WellSpan Health as presenting sponsor, plus Powder Mill Foundation and Shipley Energy | Powder Mill Foundation, Granfalloons Tavern and Royal Square Construction |
| Headliner or centerpiece | Tree lighting and Santa | Ralph Real and the Family Jam, then the White Rose drop and fireworks |
| Producer | Kint Productions LLC under contract with the City | Kint Productions LLC under contract with the City |
The York Dispatch reported that Kint Productions held the City contract to manage Light Up York and produce the New Year's Eve event. According to the same paper, Light Up York fell on December's First Friday, so the rest of downtown stayed busy that night too. The Colonial Complex offered holiday tours, Anna Smith and Brynn Olden played harp concerts at Heidelberg UCC, and the Strand Theatre showed free holiday films.
Even last year's published times didn't line up. The City listed Light Up York as 5 to 8 p.m., while Explore York's listing said 5 to 9 p.m. For New Year's Eve, the City said programming started at 9 p.m., while Explore York and the York Daily Record put the live music at 10 p.m. If you're planning around one of these nights this year, check the final listing close to the date.
The Funding Rule in the City's Request for Proposals
The City runs these two events through a procurement. In February 2026 it released RFP 2026-019, titled "Special Events Consulting Services – 2026: Phase 2," asking for a firm to fundraise for, organize and present Light Up York and the New Year's Eve Celebration. The proposal requirements list everything the winning firm takes on, including marketing and public relations, vendor recruitment, volunteers, entertainment, event committees, sponsorship and the graphic artwork for event flyers and ads.
The compensation section of the RFP document sets the funding rule in bold:
"All Dollars must be raised through corporate donations and booth fees, so that no City tax dollars are used."
The pricing schedule doesn't set a dollar ceiling. It asks each bidder for a base price, additional fees and additional costs for each event. With no tax dollars allowed, the money for the night has to come from the producer's fundraising, which puts sponsors like last year's WellSpan Health and Powder Mill Foundation at the center of the plan.
The same document describes what the City wants the events to be. Both are free, community-wide celebrations with food, entertainment and partnerships with downtown organizations and venues. Light Up York has children's activities, story time, caroling, the tree lighting and Santa. New Year's Eve has fireworks and the midnight White Rose drop. Within that outline, the producer proposes each event's concept, logistics and cost estimates, and the City has to accept them in advance.
Where the 2026 Process Stands
The RFP has its own clock. The selected firm has to submit each event's concept, logistics and budget to the City at least 120 days before the event, for the City's acceptance. Proposals were due March 23, 2026. As of late October, the City's OpenGov page for the project still says "Evaluation," and no contract has been posted to it.
The City's annual events page doesn't list a Light Up York date either. In that spot it links to the solicitation.
Last year's announcements came late in the season. The City announced Light Up York on Dec. 2, three days before the event, and announced the New Year's Eve plans on Dec. 29. If 2026 follows the same timing, the details will show up close to the dates.
November Already Has a Full Calendar
The ticketed and merchant-run events downtown aren't part of that RFP, and November is already booked. Here's what's confirmed so far, in date order:
- Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m. Disney Pixar Coco in Concert at the Appell Center.
- Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. Choir! Choir! Choir! and Marty Stuart, both on the Appell Center calendar.
- Nov. 6, 5 to 9 p.m. First Friday across downtown, per Downtown Inc. Participating businesses haven't been posted yet. Jazz in the City Goes Psychedelic '60s starts at the Appell Center at 5:30 p.m. the same evening. On First Fridays, Central Market at 34 W. Philadelphia St. is open 5 to 9 p.m., though vendor hours vary.
- Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. First Responders Benefit Concert at the Appell Center.
- Nov. 17 and Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. Geoff Tate, then Greensky Bluegrass.
- Nov. 23, 7 p.m. A Motown Christmas, the first holiday-themed show on the Appell calendar.
- Nov. 28, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The York Symphony's Holiday Pops Spectacular at the Strand Theatre, with tickets starting at $13.
December's ticketed calendar has started filling in as well. The Nutcracker Ballet – Dance It Forward plays Dec. 12 at 3 p.m., and The Hip Nut – Dance It Forward plays Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.
For gift shopping on a First Friday, The Kitsch-enette at 21 S. Beaver St., a vegan café and vintage shop, is Downtown Inc's October Merchant of the Month. Downtown Inc's Small Business Saturday page still shows last year's date, so no 2026 downtown program has been confirmed yet.
How You'll Know December Is Set
In 2025, the Light Up York announcement went out with WellSpan Health as presenting sponsor, and the New Year's Eve release named its sponsors as well. The two places to check are the City's annual events page and Explore York's events calendar. The OpenGov project page will show a contract once one is added.
The businesses on those sponsor lists are local. Powder Mill Foundation supported both events last year. Granfalloons Tavern and Royal Square Construction sponsored the New Year's Eve celebration. Under the 2026 RFP, whichever firm is selected has to raise every dollar for both nights from corporate donations and booth fees.
If you're getting to know downtown York block by block, whether you're settling in or deciding where to land, Stephanie Frysinger is happy to share what she knows about the streets around Continental Square, holiday season included. Schedule your free consultation.