Dante Park lights up Christmas in Lincoln Square
A juggler skillfully entertains children before the lighting.
shoes to exemplify the area’s iconic Metropolitan
Opera house and also garnished
with star-shaped ornaments that were
designed by community members in partnership
with Color Me Mine, Upper West
Side— a local small business and pottery
studio.
“It’s great to see everyone out here
tonight. I want to thank everyone for coming
to our little sort of town square here
at Lincoln Square,” Manhattan Borough
Commissioner of NYC Department of
Parks and Recreation William Castro said,
“This is the time of year, of course, when
we all want to come together and count
our blessings and remember what the year
was and the good things that have also
Onlookers gather excitedly.
BY DEAN MOSES
Droves of local Manhattanites fi led
into Lincoln Square Monday evening
to help ring in the neighborhood
tree lighting.
More than just a Dec. 7 Christmas event,
the large, adorned tree in Dante Park
served as the symbol of a community comeback
story. For the Lincoln Square Business
Improvement District the importance of a
public holiday celebration cannot be understated.
With last year’s tree commemoration
being nonexistent and performances at
the adjacent Lincoln Center canceled due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s tree
lighting looked to illuminate the way for a
long-awaited recovery with the promise of
more to come.
Even on stilts, jugglers kept the objects in motion.
Festive stilt-walkers and jugglers entertained
arriving spectators who pulled up
chairs and rested on railings to observe
the tree ignite with light. Keeping them
entertained while they waited, a musical
band sounded off a host of seasonal tunes
with the iconic Lincoln Center serving
as a sparkling backdrop and the 30-foot
Concolor Fir imported from upstate.
The tree had been decorated with ballet
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
happened and look forward to the New
Year. It’s a tough time but we’re gonna get
through it. We’ve gotten through it, we’re
gonna keep on keeping on.”
After a small speech, the gathered crowd
cheered as the president of the Lincoln
Square Business Improvement District
Monica Blum called out: “Are we ready
to count down?” And within a matter of
seconds the tree glimmered with rich light.
The theme of recovery isn’t going to
end with the tree’s lighting, however. It
was also announced that every Wednesday
throughout December a series of pop-up
performances will feature local singers,
dancers, carolers, and more to celebrate
the return of culture.
The band play in the glowing light of Lincoln Center.
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