Park Slope To Hold NYC's First Holiday Tree Lighting

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The Big Apple's first holiday tree lighting will happen in Park Slope in a special Small Business Saturday event, organizers announced.

The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at a "Shop Local" street party will kick off the holiday season on Saturday on the neighborhood's Fifth Avenue.

It will include live musical performances from Park Slope children's musician Dr. Alex and strolling carolers, a vintage car with Santa Claus cruising down the corridor, stilt walkers, steel drummers from Tropical Fete and more, organizers said.

The event, put on by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District, will also celebrate the 520 local small businesses on the avenue, including with free hot chocolate and treats from Down to Earth Markets and TD Bank.

"The vitality of our small businesses is what makes Park Slope 5th Avenue so special, especially for the holidays when you're searching for unique gifts for all the people in your life," BID Executive Director Mark Caserta said. "...Our tree lighting is the perfect way to kick off Small Business Saturday and the holiday season."

The event will run from 4 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street. The tree lighting will happen at 6 p.m.

The Brooklyn tree lighting comes a few days before New York City's most well known holiday tree lighting, which will light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Dec. 4.

The Rockefeller Tree, which arrived in NYC from Florida earlier this month, will be decked out with 50,000 multi-color LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star. The massive Norway spruce has been standing in Rockefeller Center since Nov. 9 and will remain in place until Jan. 17.