Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting Spectacular To Air On WBZ-TV Nov. 23
BOSTON (CBS) - Faneuil Hall Marketplace and CBS Boston's WBZ-TV announced that they will present the season's first Holiday Tree Lighting in Boston on Saturday, November 23rd at 7:30 p.m. The festivities will be televised during a live 30-minute program broadcast entitled "Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting Spectacular" on CBS Boston's WBZ-TV and myTV38 (WSBK-TV).
The live televised program will be co-hosted by WBZ-TV News anchors Lisa Hughes and Jonathan Elias and include segments with WBZ-TV News' Sports Director Steve Burton and Chief Meteorologist Eric Fisher. "Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting Spectacular" will include a tribute to Mayor Thomas M. Menino for his commitment to Faneuil Hall Marketplace and for his 20 years of service to the City of Boston as mayor. The special will also feature holiday musical performances by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus conducted by Maestro Keith Lockhart as well as Grammy-award winning Singer/Songwriter Paula Cole.
In addition, the Holiday Tree Lighting located at Marketplace Center adjacent to Faneuil Hall, will serve as a kick off for the New England Patriots Annual Holiday Toy Drive for which Faneuil Hall Marketplace will be a drop off location for toy donations for needy children. Mayor Menino will help "flip the switch" to light the 80-foot holiday tree, the tallest in the Northeast.
The daylong festivities will kick-off at 12 noon with the arrival of Santa Claus and a performance from "A Christmas Story." The event will also offer a variety of live entertainment hosted by CBS RADIO Boston's MIX 104.1 afternoon hosts Gregg Daniels and Fast Freddy with appearances by additional CBS Boston on-air personalities.
"We are thrilled to partner with Faneuil Hall Marketplace on the biggest and best tree lighting in the region and to bring this spectacular event to viewers on both WBZ-TV and myTV38," said Mark Lund, President and General Manager, CBS Boston's WBZ-TV and myTV38 (WSBK-TV). "WBZ-TV News anchors Lisa Hughes and Jonathan Elias, as well as the entire WBZ-TV family – on-air and behind the scenes – look forward to celebrating the holiday season and honoring Mayor Menino at Faneuil Hall."
"We love the holiday season at Faneuil Hall Marketplace and partnering with CBS Boston makes it even more special," said Faneuil Hall Merchants Association President Carol Troxell. "Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been the home to New England's tallest tree for the past 30-plus years and this year we are thrilled to give television viewers a front row seat as we light it for the holiday season."
As the tree illuminates at 8:00 p.m., Faneuil Hall Marketplace's newest holiday tradition, BLINK! will launch to the sound of the Holiday Pops. The six week state-of-the-art light and sound extravaganza features more than 350,000 LED lights that dance seamlessly to music to create a nightly spectacle not to be missed. BLINK! will play every half hour, from 5:00p.m. to 10:00p.m., until January 5th.
Other entertainment leading up to the "Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting Spectacular" include live performances by the recording artist LOU, A Cappella groups Reverse Order and Pitch Slapped, Inspiration Performing Troupe, Friends of Broadway Singing Group, Jukebox Dancers, with music played throughout the afternoon by DJ Joe Bermudez of AMP103.3FM. In addition, the Sugarbabies Band will entertain the crowd after the tree is lit.
