Garden City Chamber of Commerce and Astoria Federal Savings officials are gearing up for the 60th annual Village Tree Lighting Ceremony set for Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the village gazebo. While the Chamber is the coordinator, Astoria Federal Savings has been the proud supporter of this traditional community event for 20 consecutive years. The Village Tree Lighting Ceremony is part of the Chamber’s overall holiday program which includes the awarding of the Holiday Shop Windows on Franklin Avenue, Seventh Street and New Hyde Park Road. Judging will take place on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive on a Garden City fire truck and assist Mayor John Watras and village trustees in the lighting of the village trees—one at the village gazebo, the other at the mall at Franklin and Stewart avenues.
Bringing in the sounds of the season for many years will be the Garden City High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Amanda Conti, plus the Fivestone rock band, which for many years has performed at the Chamber’s Fall Festival Street Fair, the spring Belmont Festival and this past summer’s Friday Evening Promenades. King’s Supermarket’s mascot, Kingsley Bear, will also be on hand for photo-ops with the youngsters. The Garden City Fire Department will provide hot chocolate and local eateries will graciously provide cookies for spectators.
Submitted by Garden City Chamber of Commerce
