Copyright syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has announced details for what will be his final downtown Christmas tree lighting in office. The annual event is set to take place 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, in Clinton Square. The 42-foot tall artificial tree on the east side of the square features more than 10,000 multi-color LED lights and 400 branches. Returning as the entertainment headliner is Sydney Irving, an indie/pop rock artist from the Syracuse area who recently released an album through Deko Entertainment, a label distributed by Warner Music Group / ADA. Irving has been entertaining in the Central New York area since she was a teenager in Marcellus. In 2020, she was named the Young Adult Artist of the Year by the International Singer Songwriters Association. Local band TrumpTight315 will also be back to perform. The tree lighting takes place around 7 p.m. This year’s event marks the last for Walsh as mayor as he leaves office at the end of December due to term limits. Joining him on stage to flip the switch will be winners of an art competition. The contest is open to children ages 4 to 18, broken into five age divisions. To enter the contest, children should make a free drawing that reflects the theme “A Perfect Snow Day in Syracuse.” Take a photo of the drawing and email it to ParksYouthRecreation@syr.gov. Include name, age, school, parent name, phone number and email address with the submission. The deadline to enter is the end of the day Nov. 18. Drawings can also be dropped off at the following city facilities during operating hours: Syracuse Department of Parks and Recreation Office Cecile Community Center Magnarelli Community Center Seals Community Center at Kirk Park Southwest Community Center Wilson Park Community Center The city will continue to have a mailbox near the trees to leave letters for Santa that the jolly old elf will respond to. Include the child’s return address, first name and last initial, two to three holiday wishes, their favorite holiday traditions and the name of their parents or guardians. An accessible viewing area will be set up next to the tree. Weather permitting, visitors will also be able to ice skate at the Clinton Square outdoor rink for the first time that night, with extended hours until 9:30 p.m.
