DETROIT (WWJ) Merry cheer filled and warmed the chilly air at the 19th Annual Detroit Tree Lighting in downtown Detroit.
Despite the cold, tens of thousands of people from all over the region packed Campus Martius Park Friday evening. WWJ's Ryan Marshall said Santa lit up the tree between 7:15 and 7:30 to the backdrop of cheers, and skaters skating on the rink to "Joy To The World".
“One of the things that’s kind of special about it is... we’re grandparents, right?” Melvin Johnson of Canton told Marshall. “So, empty nesters. So we stay in the holiday mood because, although we celebrate together as a family, to watch all these young families come out here, skating…this renews our kind of faith in people.”
Thanks to the cold weather, Marshall said hot chocolate was “like gold” at the celebration.
The 65-foot Norway Spruce, grown in Michigan, is adorned by over 20,000 multi-colored LEDS and will light up the city throughout the holiday season.
“It’s really nice to see this city vibrant again…” one man, who did not give his name, said. “It’s freezing, but it’s heartwarming.”