This year, when Mayor Robert Garcia flips the switch to turn on the thousands of lights on the Long Beach Christmas tree, there will be a crowd to see him do it.
In 2020, Garcia was alone — except for the video crew and some technicians — because of the coronavirus pandemic. The tree on the Terrace Theater plaza shined, but the city streamed the show live instead of allowing people to attend.
This year’s party will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30, and the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau is going all out to welcome people back to the Convention & Entertainment Center.
Long Beach Ballet dancers will perform scenes from “The Nutcracker,” and the acapella group SoCal Vocale and a brass band will also perform.
Santa’s train will give youngsters rides around the plaza, and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be take pictures with families. There will be other lawn game activities, and food trucks will be on hand. Entry and parking are free.
This will be the seventh annual tree lighting, a tradition Garcia pushed for after his first election.
“Our annual tree lighting celebration has become one of my favorite traditions here in Long Beach,” Garcia said in a release. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring friends and family together, and for our entire community to celebrate the holidays while enjoying entertainment by our incredible local talent.”
Garcia traditionally has a celebrity and/or political leader or two to help light the tree, touted as the tallest in the city. The visitor’s bureau estimates there are more than 150,000 lights going on when the switch is flipped.
Then there will be fireworks from the Terrace Theater roof.
“This probably will be the biggest fireworks display yet,” visitor’s bureau spokeswoman Samantha Mehlinger said.
And while several thousand people are expected to be on hand personally, the show also will be live-streamed for free on lbtv3.com and the city’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Those who do attend must show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours.
Steve Goodling, president and CEO of the visitor’s bureau, touted Long Beach’s event as among the best in the country.
“With dancing, music, fireworks, and the tallest Christmas tree in the city, this event is a perfect wonderment for children and adults,” Goodling said in a release. “A resident from New York City shared with me that it’s even better than the Rockefeller tree lighting. Whether you come in person or watch online, we hope you can join us and enjoy the experience with friends and family.”
