The South Street Seaport‘s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony took place on Tuesday evening as families and residents gathered around the ice rink and 48 foot tall Christmas tree. Guests were given LED bracelets to help light up the night as the countdown began.
Ice skaters filled the rink as the trio of violinists welcomed guests to the winter wonderland. Massive screens were set up so that everyone had a great view of the performances. With snowflakes projected onto nearby buildings and music in the air, the energy and electricity of the night could be felt by the entire crowd. The children of Lower Manhattan were in abundance and the neighborhood vibe of the free event was evident. Happiness could be seen in the faces of all the children and their parents.
The world-renowned Harlem Gospel Choir performed a rendition of the Pharrell mega-hit “Happy” and feet were tapping and kids were clapping. The beautiful Margot B. from Boardwalk Empire sang her heart out and looked stunning in a gold ensemble. The master of ceremonies of the night was Fox TV anchor, Steve Lacy. He was joined on stage by the CEO of Howard Hughes as well as a handful of local children to help in the countdown to the tree lighting. A special appearance by Questlove and some amazing drummers, as well as an energetic performance by Bebe Rexha helped cap off the wonderful community event. The tree was a great backdrop and will remain on view through December.
-Denise Courter, DOWNTOWN’s Lifestyle and Family Editor and founder of FiDi Families
-Photography courtesy of The South Street Seaport
