Christmas tree lighting in Kennedy Plaza – December 7, 2013

All the details on this Saturday’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony and other festivities from the City of Providence:

Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 6pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Families and residents are invited to kick-off the festive season of shopping and homecomings in the Capital City on Saturday, when Mayor Angel Taveras hosts the City of Providence’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting festivities.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 6 p.m. at the Bank of America Skating Center. It will be emceed by Mayor Taveras and NBC 10’s Morning anchor, Barbara Morse Silva. Tony the Dancing Cop will be stationed at Washington Street and Dorrance Street at 5:30pm to welcome guests.

The ceremony will include performances by RPM Voices of Rhode Island featuring RPM Youth Voices, the Brown University Skating Band and the 4th and 5th grade chorus from the Lillian Feinstein at Sackett Street Elementary School. A figure skating demonstration by regional award winners will follow the ceremony, and Santa will be on the ice when public skating resumes.

Members of the Johnson & Wales University chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa will provide refreshments and sell ornaments to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Stanley Tree Service is donating crane service for the trees.

The event is sponsored by the Providence Department of Parks and Recreation, the Providence Tourism Council, Whole Foods Market University Heights, Dave’s Coffee and Zipcar Providence.

This year’s Christmas trees were donated by:

• Skating rink tree: Spruce tree from Doug and Jean Barnes of North Providence
• City Hall tree: Colorado Blue Spruce from Richard Santopietro of Silver Lake neighborhood in Providence, on behalf of his late mother, Victoria Santopietro

Figure skating demonstration participants include:

• Pawtucket & Providence Figure Skating Club
• Abigail Reynolds (Warwick FS)
• Olivia Hobson (Pawtucket and Providence FSC)
• Haley Weijlard (Warwick FS)
• Elaria Tedeschi (Smithfield FSC)
• Sophia Romano (Warwick FS)
• Corey Haxton (USFS Individual Member)

Special Guests:

• Kylie Duarte (Colonial FSC)
  2013 World Junior Championships Competitor
  2013 U.S. National Junior Pairs Silver Medalist
• Nicole Lee & Timothy Habeeb (SC of Boston/Colonial FSC)
  2012 & 2013 U.S. National Novice Competitors
• Kirsten Sjogren and Justin Curran (SC of Boston)
  2014 Eastern Sectional Competitors
• The Lexettes synchronized skating team (Hayden Recreation Centre FSC)
  2013 World Challenge Cup competitors
  6-time U.S. National Bronze Medalists