The Avenue At White Marsh Scales Back Holiday 2021 Tree Lighting

NOTTINGHAM, MD — The Avenue at White Marsh will host its annual tree lighting this holiday season. However, the event will be streamed live on Facebook without the fanfare that has become a tradition.

In years past, the tree lighting has drawn hundreds of children and parents waiting to greet Santa Claus, who flips the switch and poses for photos.

This year, Santa will not be in attendance, for what will mark the 24th annual tree lighting.

"Due to the tremendous number of people this event typically draws and the limited viewing space available, it does not yet seem appropriate to host an event and encourage a gathering of this magnitude," The Avenue at White Marsh said in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 27.

"Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to eliminate all festivities with exception to the countdown and tree lighting on Friday, November 19th," the Avenue at White Marsh said.

Here was the 2017 tree lighting:

The future of one event is still undetermined.

"As for the 2021 Holiday Parade, we are in conversation with Baltimore County and will determine how to move forward asap," organizers reported.

For the Nov. 19 festivities, the road that runs through the shopping center will remain open, and The Avenue will stream the tree lighting on Facebook.

The ice rink will be open as well, officials say.