New Date! Moved from Wednesday, December 4th to Monday, December 9th
Mark your calendar … the 95th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Washington Square Park will take place this year on Wednesday, December 4th Monday, December 9th. The tree will be lit under the Arch at 6 p.m. (sharp), joined by music from the Rob Susman Quartet, Santa, a sing along, and lots of holiday cheer. On Sunday, December 24th, Christmas Eve, at 5 p.m., a second chance for caroling with again a visit from Santa.
The tree under the monument will be lit during the holiday season from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
A little known fact: the Washington Square tree lighting ceremony is older than the Rockefeller Center tradition – by seven years!
Washington Square Association, the 113-year old community organization, presents these caroling events each year.
You can read about the first tree lighting in 1924 here. That tree was planted in the park.
As you may recall, in 2017, the Washington Square tree was displaced from its traditional location under the Arch by the controversial placement of the Ai Weiwei exhibit there.
Photo of the tree in 2011: Geekdudehn via Instagram.
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Previously at Washington Square Park Blog:
The History of the Washington Square Christmas Tree — Tree from First Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1924 Was Planted in the Park In Spirit of “Wise Use” December 20, 2011
Dear Neighbor:
Washington Square Park 4 Us All (WSP4USALL) is a grassroots movement of local residents, businesses and those who wish to safely enjoy this public park and preserve our quality of life. Our goal is to bring awareness to our elected officials and city agencies that we will no longer tolerate the illegal mostly drug related activity within Washington Square Park and spilling out into the immediate Greenwich Village neighboring areas. We advocate and demand they take action to improve quality of life in the park and rid the park of such illegal activities that: prevents our, and our children and seniors enjoyment of this pubic space, destroys our neighborhood property values and threatens the safety of our residents and businesses. We are deeply concerned that our local Police Precinct is not adequately supported, staffed or budgeted to meet this important challenge. We are deeply concerned that despite multiple arrests, repeat offender promptly return to the park and are released by the District Attorneys and Judges without prosecution. We will no longer stand for this, and we will collectively and vigorously voice our concerns to our elected officials, the media and all that join in support of our efforts. We will also not support elected officials who allow this to continue with remedy. Real unified action is needed! We need your help as a local resident, business or association.
How can you help?
1) Subscribe to our email updates by sending an email with “subscribe” in the subject line to WSP4USALL@gmail.com, you’ll be automatically subscribed for periodic updates and messages. We are not asking for any contribution other than your lending your voice and support to this effort.
2) Share this email with friends, local residents, businesses, your coop board and local associations and PLEASE ask them to join with their voices and subscription. PLEASE EXPAND OUR REACH.
3) MOST IMPORTANTLY- lend your voice and tell our elected officials! It only takes a few moments by cutting and pasting the message below and forwarding it to our local elected officials to put them on notice that we need them to TAKE ACTION NOW! We need as many local voices as possible to echo this message.
COPY & SEND THE BELOW MESSAGE VIA EMAIL to: the offices of Speaker Corey Johnson, Councilwomen Margaret Chin and Senator Brad Hoylman; at the following email addresses:
SpeakerJohnson@council.nyc.gov
gli@council.nyc.gov
chin@council.nyc.gov
pleonard@council.nyc.gov
hoylman@nysenate.gov
Thank you,
Washing Square Park 4 Us All –WSP4USALL@gmail.com
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DEAR ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Washington Square Park for Us All (WSP4USALL) is a grassroots movement of local residents, businesses and those who wish to safely enjoy this public park and our neighborhood. Our goal is to bring awareness to our elected officials and city agencies that we will no longer tolerate the illegal mostly drug related activity within the park and spilling out into the immediate Greenwich Village neighboring areas.
We are the residents, businesses, taxpayers, associations and voters in the area immediately near Washington Square Park. We are delivering this unified message to tell you:
· We are fed up with illegal activity that regularly occurs in the park.
· We are fed up with drug dealing, drug use, and junkies commandeering and regularly occupying the Northwest and Southwest quadrants of the park for the purpose of drug sales and use.
· We are fed up with the filth, urination, defecation, spitting, discarded drug paraphernalia, alcohol bottles and cans and general filth in those areas of the park.
· We are fed up seeing the sale of stolen goods in the park that are shoplifted from our local businesses.
· We are fed up with public alcohol use, crack, cigarette and pot smoking.
· We are fed up with junkies: sleeping, having sex, generating trash and intimidating patrons of the park.
· We are fed up with the ineffective and partial employment of Park Enforcement Police.
· We are fed up with the lack of what was once regular NYPD Police presence in the park due to lack of funding of our local Police Precinct.
· We are fed up with our elected representative not being attentive to these issues or even having an active voice in potential remedies or support of their constituents.
· We are fed up with the negative impact this has on our neighborhood safety, property values and quality of life.
· Mostly, we are fed up hearing of multiple arrests, especially those arrests of repeat offenders that are not prosecuted by our judges. This lack of prosecution is a grave concern and a threat to public safety and enjoyment of our park.
We are calling on our local authorities, elected officials, judges and district attorneys to take immediate action. We won’t tolerate this regular, overt, illegal and detrimental activity. We won’t let this happen in full view of our children’s playgrounds. We are raising public awareness, protest and engaging media attention to bring a prompt remedy to this situation. We, as your constituents, are unified and mobilizing and we’re not letting this go until the park is returned to a safe and pleasant environment for us all.
We will VOTE YOU OUT, if you don’t take immediate substantive action and let this condition continue. We will continue to bring public awareness and build support of this issue. We will not let this issue rest!
Hi WSP4USALL,
Thanks for writing in about your efforts and for your email. We will write about your campaign shortly.
best,
Cathryn
Love the Washington Square tree lighting – so excited! I just wanted to share a saving tip for any fellow NY’ers who are looking to save on transportation this holiday season. I was complaining about how much money I’ve been spending on Uber’s and a friend recommended saferides.org; it’s a non-profit and much more affordable than ride-shares. You can book rides in advance and it’s great for large groups. Just in case anyone else is tired of draining their funds with ride-sharing apps!
DO NOT BOTHER WITH THAT TREE LIGHTING EVENT AT WASHINGTON SQ.THE PEOPLE RUNNING IT ARE SO UNABLE TO GET THE DATES EVER RIGHT.ITS HAPPENING EVERY YEAR.THIS YEAR WAS SCHEDULED FOR DEC4.went there and met with many many people that have gathered to view the event.when they read the note were all fuming with anger and upset.
those in charge at Washington sq association if have traces of descency left in them must immediately step down.
DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!