DETROIT (WWJ) — It’s that time of year again. Thousands of people will pour into Downtown Detroit’s Campus Martius Park and the surrounding areas Friday night for the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting.
On top of the thousands of twinkling lights to officially kick off the holiday season in the city, there will also be plenty of red and blue lights throughout the area, as there will be a heavy police presence to make sure the annual event is a safe one.
With an estimated 50,000 people expected to attend, Interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison spoke Thursday afternoon at Campus Martius, saying there will be DPD officers, along with Wayne County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Michigan State Police troopers and other plainclothes officers amongst the crowd.
“We’re gonna ensure that the community is safe, that everyone knows that and that they can come downtown and enjoy the tree lighting and beautiful Campus Martius,” Bettison said.
The interim chief, who just took the reins of the department from Chief James White earlier this month, said there will be high-density metal detectors that “will be able to move people through very fast.”
“It will detect firearms and other weapons. If you have a CPL, I’ll say that you can still bring your weapon, but for other individuals, we encourage you to leave your weapons at home, as it is a weapon-free zone,” he said.
The city will be enforcing its curfew for minors — 8 p.m. for those 15 and under, and 11 p.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds.
“Parents — please do not drop your kids off downtown. If your kids are coming, make sure that they have adult supervision with them,” Bettison said.
Sheriff Raphael Washington said his department will work with the other departments to be “one band, one sound” as law enforcement works to make it a safe event.
Festivities will begin at 4 p.m., with the ceremony scheduled to end at 9 p.m. There will be musical and ice skating performances, along with food trucks, adult beverages and non-alcoholic drinks and more as the city lights up its 66-foot Michigan-grown Norway spruce
The following road closures went into place Wednesday and will remain until Saturday morning:
• NB/SB Woodward Ave. at State/Gratiot
• Michigan Ave. between Woodward and Griswold
• Fort St. between Woodward and Griswold
• NB/SB Woodward at Congress
• Monroe between Woodward Ave. and Farmer
• Cadillac Square between Woodward Ave. and Bates
The Rink at Campus Martius will open to the public on Saturday.
Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for continuing coverage of the tree lighting throughout the day. >>> LISTEN LIVE!