Mayor Wu to join Boston Common tree lighting celebration

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and title sponsor Province of Nova Scotia will host the 80th Annual Boston Common Tree Lighting adjacent to the Visitor’s Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. Grammy Award winner Darlene Love will headline the holiday celebration.

Mayor Wu will be joined by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston for the event, marking the 50th year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor. Within 24 hours of the disaster a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel was making its way from Boston to Nova Scotia.

“After last year’s virtual celebration, I’m delighted to welcome residents and visitors of all ages back to Boston Common for this very special tradition,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we light the tree to launch our holiday season, I’m thankful for community and the chance to be together. We as a city are grateful to Nova Scotia for this wonderful gift of a tree, enjoyed by Bostonians for half a century.” 

WCVB Channel 5’s CHRONICLE Co-Anchors Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour will once again host Channel 5’s live broadcast of the event beginning at 7 p.m. featuring headliner Darlene Love, legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Award winner. In addition, the cast of “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Heather Rankin with the critically acclaimed folk group Beolach, R&B sensation Keonte Beals, the cast of “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” Boston’s own a capella group Ball in the House, Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman will join the 80th annual tree lighting program.

The official holiday season kick-off in Boston includes the lighting of the City of Boston's official Christmas tree and trees throughout Boston Common and the Public Garden. Boston’s official 2021 Christmas tree is a 60-year-old, 48-foot white spruce tree from Orangedale, Municipality of the County of Inverness, Cape Breton. The tree has been donated by the landowner L’Arche Cape Breton Community, a non-profit organization that creates safe, supportive homes and meaningful work for people with disabilities.

The holiday lights throughout both parks will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m. when Mayor Wu is joined onstage by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. The show will close with a pyrotechnic display by Atlas PyroVision.

The event is supported by title sponsor, the Province of Nova Scotia, presenting sponsor Amazon, key sponsors Exelon Generation and Bank of America, and media sponsors WCVB - Channel 5 and The Boston Globe. A sampling village will feature giveaways from Xfinity, Dunkin’ seasonal drinks and a donut decorating kit, cookies from Levain Bakery, eggnog provided by H.P. Hood, LLC, and Drake’s Cakes famous pastries.

Sponsors of the “Make the Common Glow for the Holidays” appeal that makes lighting of the Common and Public Garden possible include The Lynch Family Foundation and The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For more information please call (617) 635-4505 or visit www.boston.gov/boston-common-tree-lighting. For Boston Common parking information go to www.massconvention.com/bcg.html.