Downtown Honolulu will sparkle a little brighter than usual when they flick the switch for the 25th annual Honolulu City Lights tomorrow evening.

Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele again will grace the lawn of Honolulu Hale, but the city also will roll out several refurbished gigantic displays from past years to add more glitter.

The silver anniversary will include light tricks simulating snow falling on the city's 50-foot NorfolkIsland pine, a nostalgic photo exhibit in Honolulu Hale highlighting the event's history, and for the first time, a spectator who was at the first Honolulu City Lights will join Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his wife to light the tree.

"It's overwhelming for the senses," city artisan Mike Smith said of the celebration.

Here are tips to help your family get the most out of the event, from where to park to where to watch the parade.

DON'T FORGET

Bring your camera, because there will be plenty of Kodak moments to capture.

Be sure to get there early to avoid the traffic and find a good spot to watch the festivities. More than 75,000 people are expected to attend, so your best bet is to get there before 4:30 p.m. and park in the underground Civic Center parking garage. Enter off Alapai or Beretania streets. Parking is free and there are 700 stalls, plus a handful of metered stalls near the exit point.

There will also be some parking on side streets and parking garages throughout Chinatown.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Keiki rides ($2 to $4) and food booths are set up on the Civic Center grounds and will open at 4 p.m.

• Free photos with Santa are being offered from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Mission Memorial Auditorium (the large red brick building adjacent to Honolulu Hale).

• If you prefer to skip the parade, catch the Kawaiahao Church concert at 5 p.m.

• At 7:30 p.m., a free holiday concert will be held on the civic grounds featuring Hana Hou (U.S. Air Force band), Maunalua, Amy Hänaialii, De Lima Ohana and Touch of Gold.

PARADE

• Start walking down King Street toward Bishop Square around 5 p.m. to claim a spot to watch the parade. (You'll likely get a better view by 'Iolani Palace).

• The Electric Light Parade starts at A'ala Park and proceeds down King Street past Honolulu Hale. A highlight this year is a new Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. renewable energy float, featuring Santa's plantation-style house complete with solar electric photovoltaic panels and a solar clothes dryer (a clothesline) to dry Santa's board shorts.

Other highlights are a GEICO float featuring the gecko and caveman mascots, the Honolulu City Lights Choo-Choo Train and numerous school bands.

• The parade ends at the intersection of King, Alapai and South streets around 7:30 p.m., where city vehicles, including a fire truck, ambulance, Jet Ski and TheBus, will be parked for an hour for kids to explore and learn more about city services.

TREE-LIGHTING

At 6 p.m., the tree-lighting ceremony begins on the Honolulu Hale lawn. The tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m.

The tree was donated by the Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa in Kalihi-Pälama and will be lit with energy-efficient LED lights and adorned with new ornaments — Hawaiian snowflakes reminiscent of local quilt patterns — created by Owen Ho, designer of the outdoor displays, including the Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele.

IN HONOLULU HALE

• Always a favorite are the decorated trees in the courtyard of Honolulu Hale, which opens at 6:30 p.m. This year will also feature a refurbished 17-foot gingerbread house — previously a plantation home — created by city artisan Alex Ching. To avoid a long wait in line, wait an hour or two before going in. It will all be on display through Dec. 31.

• The 25 Years of Hono-lulu City Lights photo exhibit will also be on display in the courtyard foyer through Dec. 31.It features, among other things, the early years of Shaka Santa, Tutu Mele and the Snow Family.

NEW ORNAMENTS

Two commemorative Honolulu City Lights ornaments are available this year and can be purchased at Honolulu Hale, First Hawaiian Bank Oahu branches and Macy's stores for $18 each.

This year's ornaments are 2009 "Hau'oli la Hänau" (Happy Birthday), a brass collectible, and a limited edition commemorative 25th anniversary silver ornament.

You can also purchase both online, as well as the previous 24, at honolulucitylights.org for $21 each.

AFTER TOMORROW

• If you miss tomorrow's tree-lighting ceremony, don't worry, all displays will be lit and available for viewing every night through Jan. 3.

• Nightly, from 5 to 7, Papa John's Pizza will be selling pizza and drinks.

• The Honolulu Hale Choo-Choo Train will operate near the keiki rides nightly from 6:30 to 10. Cost is $4 per person.

• Starting Sunday through Dec. 24, Santa will be in the courtyard from 7 to 9 p.m. to gather keiki's Christmas wish lists. On Dec. 21, the Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union will be there to take free photos with Santa, so it's a good night to come by.

• Free milk and cookies will be given out Dec. 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Honolulu Hale driveway. Kraft Foods Nabisco characters will be there as well.

• The Friends of Honolulu City Lights will sponsor two additional free concerts on Dec. 12 and 19 in the Mission Memorial Auditorium, adjacent to Honolulu Hale. Music will start at 6 each night.

The Dec. 12 lineup is Robi Kahakalau and special guests the Performing Arts Academy show choir, and Hiikua. Dec. 19 is a family night concert, featuring the puppetry of Jeff Gere, the Keiki Palaka Band and Brother Noland.

TAKE A TOUR

There are several creative ways to enjoy touring the city lights:

• Starting Sunday through Dec. 23 at Mission Houses Museum, climb aboard a 1936 fire truck or 1950 Pirsch Fire Engine between 6 and 9 nightly. The vehicles each hold 12 passengers and depart every half hour. Reservations are recommended since tours were sold out last year. Cost is $8 per person ($4 for children 2 and younger). Cash only. Call 590-2100 or e-mail firetruckhawaii@yahoo.com for reservations.

• Sunday through Dec. 30, a horse and carriage ride is set up by 'Iolani Palace (on Likelike Way and King Street) and operates from 6:30 to 11 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Cost is $15 per adult and $10 per child, with a $60 minimum to move the carriage.

• Ward Center's Honolulu City Lights Trolley Tour starts at Ward Warehouse and takes you on a 30-minute tour through the city lights.

It runs daily, except Dec. 24 and 25. Tickets are $4.50 and sold in the Ward Warehouse common area near T&C Surf Designs. Advance tickets recommended. (Children 3 and younger are free). Limit of 10 tickets per adult, with proceeds to benefit the Hawaii Foodbank. Thirty seats per trolley.

KAPOLEI CITY LIGHTS

If you miss this weekend's festivities, head to West O'ahu next Saturday (Dec. 12) for the 9th Annual Kapolei City Lights.

The tree lighting is at 7 p.m., and the West Electric Light Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Farrington Highway and Kealanani Avenue. There will also be a holiday concert featuring Touch of Gold during a block party on Uluohia Street fronting Kapolei Hale, starting at 5 p.m.

• Best place to park to avoid traffic jams: Drive on Uluohia Street (Waianae-bound) and turn right into the State Building (parking is free). Find street parking or park in the nearby shopping center across from the State Building to watch the parade.

• Parade route: The parade will proceed from Kapolei Town through Kamokila Boulevard, heading toward Waianae and ending at Kapolei Hale on Uluohia Street (across from Kmart).