PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s official Christmas tree has arrived at City Hall for three weeks of decorating before the star-powered official lighting ceremony next month.
The 50-foot-tall Norway spruce tree was slowly lowered into the giant stand on the north side of City Hall on Tuesday’s tree-welcoming event. Over the next few weeks, workers will add giant decorations, 6,000 LED lights and 100 meteor lights.
Powerhouse singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth, of “Wicked” and “Pushing Daisies” fame, will headline the actual Dec. 3 tree-lighting, along with Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin.
Kristin Chenoweth and Kirk FranklinTheo Wargo, Chris Graythen/Getty Images
This year, according to Mayor Cherelle Parker, the lights are just the beginning. “We’re going to be spreading the holiday magic from City Hall down Market East to Sixth Street,” she said.
The mayor has pledged to revive that sometimes desolate stretch of Center City and promised a festive look for the holidays, including, she said, “over 100 poles dressed in snowflakes, garlands, bows and wreaths, decorated bus shelters and subway entrances.”
Parker says there will be plenty of visitors to take in the new sights since the Christmas Village in Love Park and the holiday market around City Hall draw around 1 million visitors between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
