Mizner Park Amphitheater hosts two of Boca Raton's free city celebrations this month, ten days apart. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the city holds Red, White and Boca, its Veterans Day celebration. On Saturday, Nov. 21, Mayor Andy Thomson lights the city's holiday tree at the same moment Mizner Park switches on about 50,000 LED lights strung across 75 palm trees.

Nov. 21: the tree, the palms and three bands

The Holiday Tree Lighting runs from 6 to 10 p.m. The evening opens at 6 with live music, a craft station, a holiday market and food and drinks for sale. At 7:30 p.m. the mayor leads the ceremonial lighting, timed to the Mizner Park display, which adds 2D light pieces to the wrapped palms.

Three acts share the stage: The Holidazed at 6:20 p.m., Sekond Nature at 7:40 p.m. and Jam-X The Band at 8:45 p.m., each playing about an hour. Final announcements come at 9:50 p.m.

From 6 to 10 p.m., families can take selfie photos with Santa at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, which sits inside Mizner Park.

A few rules to know before going. Outside chairs are not allowed, though chairs can be rented on site. Each person may bring one unopened bottle of water. Plaza Real East and West, the interior roads inside Mizner Park, close to cars at 5 p.m. The event is sponsored by the City of Boca Raton, WPBF 25 and Mizner Park, and vendors can still sign up through a form on the city's event page.

Nov. 11: Red, White and Boca

Ten days earlier, the amphitheater fills for Veterans Day from 4 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to veterans, their families and anyone else who wants to come.

The east lawn holds a classic car show with awards that include best of show and best veteran-owned vehicle. A veterans marketplace brings together local service organizations and veteran-owned small businesses, and food vendors are on site.

The program starts at 4:45 p.m., when a JROTC color guard presents the colors before the national anthem. Mayor Thomson reads a proclamation at 4:55 p.m., and the Coastman Chorus sings at 5:10 p.m. Two veterans speak at 5:25 p.m.: Madeline Mollach, a U.S. Air Force veteran and commander of American Legion Post 277, and Edrei Pinheiro, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who works as a production coordinator at SpaceX. The group Belladiva performs at 5:45 p.m., and the car show awards close the evening at about 6:45 p.m.

Guests can bring nonperishable food for the Boca Helping Hands food drive, which collects donations at the event for local families. The city posts a flyer with the most-needed items.

Boca Raton is designated a Purple Heart City, and the celebration is the city's annual Veterans Day event.

How to go

Both events are free at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Red, White and Boca runs Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. The Holiday Tree Lighting runs Saturday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 10 p.m., with the lighting at 7:30. Questions go to Boca Raton City Hall at 561-393-7810.

Sources