Reminders: The 26th annual Tree Lighting at Tompkins Square Park is Sunday

[Photo by Steven]

It happens from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday ... once again featuring the holiday stylings of the Carolers of Olde New York (via the Theatre for the New City) and the Mandel & Lydon Trio (every year someone makes the John Lydon joke) ... with refreshments provided by Veselka and C&B Cafe over on Seventh Street. (Go here for info about post-tree-lighting specials at a few local businesses.)

Meanwhile, two different crews have been spotted working on the tree... From yesterday...


[Photo by Ronnie]

And Sunday...


[Photo by Steven]

Not sure exactly what they were doing. Hooking up the power? Some Park regulars thought that the lights were kept on the tree year round...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader mailbag: A call to keep the lights on the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park

The 26th annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park is Dec. 10

Here's a save-the-date if you're interested: The tree lighting ceremonies in Tompkins Square Park are from 4-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10 ... we'll post more details on the programming when those details are available.

Afterwards, the East Village Independent Merchants Association is hosting a holiday celebration with specials at a handful of local businesses. More about this later as well.

Noting

[Photo from this evening]

Several readers have asked if we knew when the lights were turned off on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree. It has been at least a week since we've seen it lit up...

Three weeks ago, EVG reader Jose Garcia made an appeal to light the lights on year-round.

Reader mailbag: A call to keep the lights on the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo from Tuesday]

EVG regular Jose Garcia writes in:

I've been wondering whether you think there might be any sympathy for keeping the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park lit beyond the holiday season.

Not sure who (Parks Department?) is responsible for it but for me at least it's become something of a beacon of hope and the beauty of our neighborhood given the toxic political atmosphere.

I'm guessing it would be a matter of costs and also perhaps it would be unhealthy for the tree?

The lights usually remain illuminated until some time in February... like in 2009, it was Feb. 7... in 2014, it was Feb. 17.

It was pretty nice to see it lit up that one St. Patrick's Day.

At the 25th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

East Village residents gathered late this afternoon for the 25th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting.

The Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition, East Village Parks Conservancy and Third Street Music School Settlement hosted the event, which featured, as always, music by Mandel & Lydon Trio (Ellen Mandel, Michael Lydon and John Hagen) ... and the Carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City. Veselka served food and drinks. Angelica's Kitchen, C&B Cafe and Jimmy's 43 also chipped in on snacks for the lighting.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by and shared these photos...




[Artist Albert Fabozzi planted the tree 25 years ago to commemorate the loss of his friend, Park advocate Glenn Barnett]

Oh, the lights are working

The official Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting ceremony is Sunday afternoon at 4 ... but the lights are on now. Perhaps someone is just practicing. Or those meddling kids plugged in the lights.

Photo this afternoon by Steven

Tompkins Square Park holiday tree starting to look more like a holiday tree

[Photo by @davidpiz]

Workers are putting the lights on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree ... ahead of the tree lighting this Sunday from 4-5 p.m.

(And enjoy the lights while you can — they'll likely only be up through the middle of February.)

-----

From the archives ...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

The 25th annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park is Sunday (Dec. 11)

From 4-5 p.m. And as usual, the event includes music via the Carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City and refreshments from Veselka.

The tree was planted in 1992 in memory of Park advocate Glenn Barnett, "and each of our neighbors whom we have lost to AIDS," per the sign that hangs near the tree.

Revisit last year's gathering here.


[Photo from last year by Stacie Joy]

Tompkins Square Park holiday tree produces ornament offspring

Wait, we don't remember the tree having any ornaments ... just lights. Hmm.

Photo this afternoon via Goggla.

At the 24th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

Late this afternoon, East Village residents gathered for the 24th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting ... EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the event, which was hosted by the Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition, East Village Parks Conservancy and Third Street Music School Settlement.

The Mandel & Lydon Trio and carolers from Carolers of Olde New York from the Theatre for the New City provided the music. Veselka served hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and hot apple cider. Albert Fabozzi, who planted the tree 24 years ago to commemorate the loss of his friend, switched the lights on.

Here are a few scenes ...

The Tompkins Square Park holiday tree — now with the lights on

[Photo by Steven]

The 24th annual Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting ceremony is happening now until 5 p.m. ... and the lights just went on (thanks ConEd!). We'll post 458,223 more photos in the weeks ahead, or until the lights go dark in April.

We'll have photos of the festivities from EVG contributor Stacie Joy later on...

The 24th annual Tree Lighting at Tompkins Square Park is Sunday

[Photo by Steven]

In case you didn't see the posters that went up — and around — the Park yesterday afternoon... the 24th annual tree lighting ceremony is Sunday from 4-5 p.m. (And be sure to break out your favorite holiday shorts and tank tops for the event: Sunday's high will reach 66. Degrees.)

Anyway, the tree lighting will feature, as always:

Music from Mandel & Lydon Trio
Carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City
Refreshments from Veselka Restaurant
Additional Support from East Village Books, Vazacs/7B (listed on the poster as Vazac Ave B Restaurant) and Apple Savings Bank

... and co-hosted by...
East Village Parks Conservancy
Third Street Music School Settlement
Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition

The tree was planted in 1992 in memory of Park advocate Glenn Barnett, "and each of our neighbors whom we have lost to AIDS," per the sign that hangs near the tree.

You can revisit last year's tree lighting here.

As a commenter noted last year, the lights and tree were "delightfully askew."

Developing/breaking: Lights going up on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree

After waiting 75 minutes in line for lights at the Rite Aid on First Avenue, Crews were out this morning to start the annual tree decorating (aka putting up the lights in an often haphazard fashion)...


[Photo by John Greally]

Meantime, we haven't heard anything yet about the official tree lightning ceremony (this year will mark the 24th annual). Last year's event was on Sunday, Dec. 14. So maybe Dec. 13 this year? We'll find out!

Updated 10:43

Via Steven...





And later... via Bobby Williams...



-----

From the archives ...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

At the 23rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for the ceremonies... featuring music from Mandel & Lydon Trio and carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City ... Here are a few scenes from late this afternoon...