Mayor Taveras and Providence Preservation Society Host Tree Lighting Ceremony

Mayor Angel Taveras and the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) host the annual City of Providence Tree Lighting festivities on Saturday, December 3 at 6PM, inviting families and residents to kick off the festive season of shopping and homecomings in the state capital.

The celebration is the culmination of a day-long family event and tour of historic houses on Benefit Street, and includes a parade to the Bank of America Skating Center, beginning at 5:45PM from the corner of Meeting and Benefit Streets led by the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment Fife and Drum Corp, celebrity host Michaela Johnson from Fox News' Rhode Show, and Lite Rock 105. Performances by vocalist groups Voices of Christmas and RPM Voices will join the festivities, and the Snow Queen will grant children's wishes. The Providence Daily Deal Holiday Bus tour will also end in Kennedy Plaza prior to the festivities and the Hot 8 Brass Band, a performance provided by Fete.

Mayor Taveras will deliver brief welcoming remarks, lead a moment of silence for the men and women of the US Armed Services who have lost their lives defending our country this year, and lead the countdown for the lighting of the 20-foot blue spruce at the skating rink donated by Elaine Stimson of Johnston, and the 45-foot Norway spruce in front of City Hall donated by Joe and Diane Ferro of Johnston. Thanks also to Stanley Tree Service for donating its crane services to lift the tree into place.

WHO: Mayor Angel Taveras; Providence Preservation Society; Michaela Johnson, host, Fox News Rhode Show

WHAT: Annual City of Providence Tree Lighting festivities, culmination of Providence Preservation Society's Benefit Street Holiday day-long holiday event

WHEN: Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 6PM (Parade from Benefit Street led by 2nd RI Regiment Fife and Drum Corp begins at 5:45PM)

WHERE: Bank of America Skating Center, Kennedy Plaza, downtown Providence

For information on PPS' A Benefit Street Holiday and details on activities scheduled for the day, contact Lauren Goldenberg at

or 401-831-7440.