Boston’s 76th Annual Official Tree Lighting on Boston Common
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Honorable Stephen McNeil, Premier of Nova Scotia, will commemorate 100 years of friendship between Boston and Nova Scotia at the 76th Annual Tree Lighting on Boston Common on Thursday, November 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
"Nova Scotia and Boston have shared a special bond for a century, and I'm pleased we will come together again this year to celebrate the friendship and connection between our two homes," said Mayor Walsh.
The celebration is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, title sponsor The Province of Nova Scotia, Jumbotron sponsor JetBlue, and presenting sponsors Distrigas/ENGIE and IKEA with media partners WCVB Channel 5, Magic 106.7 FM, the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe. Additional support is provided by The Christmas Tree Promotion Board, XFINITY and Capital One.
The holiday lights throughout both parks will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m., when Mayor Walsh will be joined on stage by Premier McNeil, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Santa Claus. The show will close with a pyrotechnic display by Atlas PyroVision.
The holiday decorations throughout the Boston Common and the Public Garden include the City of Boston's official Christmas tree. A 53-foot white spruce tree donated by Bob and Marion Campbell and family of Blues Mills in Inverness County on Cape Breton Island has been selected for this year's celebration.
"A century ago, our American neighbors played a critical role in aiding our province during the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion," said Premier McNeil. "Nova Scotia will never forget the support the people of Boston and the surrounding area provided. As a thank you, and to mark our ongoing friendship, we are very pleased once again to give the gift of a beautiful Nova Scotia Christmas tree and celebrate the season in your city."
WCVB's Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour will host Channel 5's live broadcast of the event beginning at 7 p.m. featuring Nova Scotia's Port Cities, Grammy-nominated songwriter and performer Kara DioGuardi, the cast of "Elf: The Musical," Ellis C. Dawson III from the cast of Disney's "Aladdin," the Boston Pops Gospel Choir, and this year's headliner, the Grammy Award-winning group All 4 One.
The lighting of the trees on the Common is made possible through the generosity of The Egan Foundation, the Lynch Family, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, John Moriarty & Associates and contributions from other individuals and institutions.
The annual holiday display includes the official Christmas tree from Nova Scotia and trees throughout Boston Common. Refreshments and additional support will be provided by promotional sponsors Dunkin' Donuts, DAVIDsTEA, H.P. Hood LLC, DASANI SPARKLING, the Must Be The Milk initiative of the New England Dairy Promotion Board and an appearance by the L.L. Bean Bootmobile.
This is the 46th year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor. Within 24 hours of the disaster a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel was making its way from Boston to Nova Scotia. For more information, please call (617) 635-4505, go to www.boston.gov/parks, or visit us on Facebook. For Boston Common parking information go to www.massconvention.com/bcg.html.
