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Hundreds head to Clinton Square for annual Christmas tree lighting in Syracuse (photos)

Syracuse.com 11/26/2022 Fernando Alba, syracuse.com

Hundreds turned out on mild, post-Thanksgiving evening for Syracuse's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Clinton Square, which featured live music, a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus, ice skating, and a few words from city leaders, including Mayor Ben Walsh.

© Steve Featherstone/syracuse.com/TNS Hundreds turned out on mild, post-Thanksgiving evening for Syracuse's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Clinton Square, which featured live music, a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus, ice skating, and a few words from city leaders, including Mayor Ben Walsh.

Syracuse, N.Y. — Clinton Square’s holiday makeover was complete Friday night after Syracuse’s annual Christmas tree lighting.

Hundreds gathered for festive music, hot food and drinks, ice skating and to see the 42-foot artificial tree light up.

Before flipping the candy cane switch, Mayor Ben Walsh brough out Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in a red SUV topped with a white bow named the “Santa Express” to wave to the crowd gathered around the ice rink.

The crowd counted down from 10 before the tree lit up in bright colors.

The lighting ceremony in Syracuse dates back as far as 1914, according to syracuse.com | The Post-Standard archives. A city parks department crew delivered a 40-foot tree by sleigh that year to what is now known as Columbus Circle.

Maureen Adams brought her granddaughter, Kristian, to this year’s event. They arrived an hour early to make sure they got a good spot in the crowd.

Adams was born and raised in Syracuse. She now lives in Maryland and said the annual tree lighting played a part in her growing up in the city.

“Even if I didn’t come to the tree-lighting, we’d always come and see the tree,” she said.

Adams said the city is different since she last lived here but she likes the changes.

“I’m just so pleased that Syracuse is being revived,” she said.

Andrew Marks had even more distance to cover than Adams, having made a cross-country trip from Los Angeles, where he records and edits videos and plays music.

Marks grew up in Syracuse and while he was too young to remember the tree-lightings he went to with his parents, he said he thought this year’s event was fun and that it was nice to see changes downtown.

“I feel like there’s a lot more restaurants and bars and just more energy down here than I remember,” he said.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950.

Hundreds turned out on mild, post-Thanksgiving evening for Syracuse's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Clinton Square, which featured live music, a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus, ice skating, and a few words from city leaders, including Mayor Ben Walsh.

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Hundreds head to Clinton Square for annual Christmas tree lighting in Syracuse (photos)

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