Mayor Cicilline to Host Annual Tree Lighting

PROVIDENCE - Mayor David N. Cicilline will host the City of Providence's annual Holiday Tree Lighting festivities on Saturday, December 4^th at 6pm. The day's festivities will include a parade to Providence City Hall from the Providence Preservation Society tour of historic homes on Benefit Street and an evening of free ice skating.

The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) will conduct tours of historic homes decked out for the holidays along Benefit Street from 11am to 5pm. The PPS Holiday Festival will include hay rides, carolers and a holiday decorating seminar by Martha Beckman, a Providence native and former Holiday Director for Martha Stewart Living. For more information, contact the PPS at 401-831-7440 or visit www.ppsri.org. The tour will be followed by a holiday procession at 5:45pm from Benefit and Thomas streets to City Hall for the Tree Lighting ceremony.

Mayor Cicilline and WJAR Anchor Patrice Wood will host the Tree Lighting ceremony on the steps of City Hall. The holiday celebration will feature a performance by RPM Voices and the Voices of Christmas.

Mayor Cicilline will invite the public to skate for free the entire evening at the Bank of America City Center immediately following the Tree Lighting. Visitors will also be treated to a figure skating and synchronized skating demonstration performed by award-winning local, regional and international skaters.