Red Kettle season kicks off Saturday, Nov. 12 with tree-lighting ceremony in downtown St. Paul
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and the City of St. Paul are inviting the public to view the lighting ceremony for the new Salvation Army “Tree of Lights” in Rice Park on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature music performances by the St. Paul Police Band Drumline, youth choir Known MPLS, and Jennifer Edwards from St. Paul Hotel’s “It’s A Wonderful Life,” as well as free cookies and hot chocolate.
The Tree of Lights will stand 40 feet tall and feature more than 25,000 lights. It’s the first time a holiday tree has been included in Rice Park decorations since 2019.
“We’re beyond excited to have a holiday tree back in Rice Park,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “And we couldn’t think of a better holiday partner to collaborate with than The Salvation Army. We’re inviting all of the Twin Cities to come out to Rice Park and celebrate the season with us.”
The ceremony will also mark The Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Kickoff, when the iconic Red Kettles and bell ringing volunteers hit store entrances and street corners to collect funds for Salvation Army food and housing programs in the Twin Cities. Sign up to ring bells.
“Our hope is that the Tree of Lights will become a holiday tradition much like the Red Kettle, affirming our commitment to celebrating the season of peace, hope, and goodwill,” said Lt. Col. Dan Jennings, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division.
Sign up to ring bells
Registration is now open for the 2022 bell ringing season. Sign up to ring bells.
The Salvation Army needs more bell ringers than ever this holiday season due to rising inflation. Your time volunteering at a red kettle will help local families who cannot afford the rising cost of food, gas and housing.
Bell ringing is a fun and easy way to make a big difference, with hundreds of red kettle locations throughout the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota and North Dakota. Recruit your friends, family and coworkers to join you and raise even more money for hurting families.
Kettle donations allow The Salvation Army to provide food, shelter and care for thousands of local people and families.
This holiday season, The Salvation Army is calling on all of our supporters to Love Beyond. #LoveBeyond is a national Salvation Army campaign that encourages people to put love above all else, in order to show families in need that love exists beyond their most difficult situations – be it hunger, overdue bills, eviction, addiction, and other hardships. Join us by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.