Celebrate the Season, Check Out a Tree Lighting, and Back 5th Avenue Businesses This Weekend

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The holiday season will officially get underway in Park Slope this Saturday when the lights are lit on the neighborhood's most famous Christmas tree.

The annual ceremony will take place at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 4th Street on Nov. 26, a block away from the Old Stone House and Washington Park.

The festivities will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with live music courtesy of Leah Shaw and Opera on Tap, a puppet show by Puppetry Arts, and free hot chocolate and snacks from neighborhood businesses The Chocolate Room, Du Jour Bakery, Buttermilk Bakeshop and Bagel World. There will also be an appearance by Santa, before the countdown to the tree lighting gets underway at about 7 p.m.

But if you're free beforehand, there's also plenty to do up and down 5th Avenue throughout the day, all coordinated by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District.

From 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the aforementioned Mr. Clause will be cruising up and down the strip in a Pink Cadillac convertible, while the Opera on Tap singers will be caroling.

And from 1 p.m. onward, numerous area businesses will be offering discounts and promotions (you can check out the complete list of participating stores here).

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon, right?

Top image courtesy of Eric Chan on Flickr