Several Palm Beach celebrations return for the holidays after a year of COVID-19 cancelations
Christmas trees will soon light up the town.
Several holiday traditions will return after a year of festivity cancelations due to COVID-19.
The town is already ablaze with fully decorated Christmas trees, and they will all be lit up this week during a series of in-person and virtual events.
Although some celebrations will be modified this year, Town Manager Kirk Blouin said many residents are eager to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate the time of year with others in person.
“I think the bulk of people are ready to venture out due to the low COVID-positive rates and are excited to take on some calculated risks and live life,” he said.
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In spite of the absence of Worth Avenue's annual holiday parade or in-person tree lighting that, in the past has gathered several thousand residents, the shops along the Avenue are planning a series of micro-events to get people in the holiday spirit, according to a representative of the Worth Avenue Association.
Online, residents will be able to watch the Avenue's 40-foot-tall tree light up. The real-time lighting of the tree was filmed last week, but its lights will be visible starting Tuesday before sundown, an association representative said.
A month of Santa sightings, live music in Via Amor, and hot and iced chocolate stations will follow. Follow @worthavenuepalmbeach on social media or go to worth-avenue.com to see the complete calendar of events.
At Memorial Fountain Park, a 16-foot-tall tree will be lit during an in-person tree lighting hosted by The Palm Beach Midtown Business Association on Tuesday. It is the only in-person lighting in the town, according to Blouin. Last year, the tree was quietly lit by town employees.
This year, guests can enjoy a live performance and sing-a-long from the Kings Academy Choir at 4:45 p.m., followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m.
Pamela Stark Thomas, the association’s former president, said residents are able to safely gather due to the efforts they have made throughout the year.
“We're thrilled to be able to safely reopen our retail stores, business offices and special events thanks to all those who have wisely and selflessly taken responsibility to get their COVID vaccines,” she wrote in an email. “This has helped open doors for not only our own loved ones but also for those of all our Palm Beach community and beyond.”
Guests and their children can visit Santa Claus after the tree is lit, or they can participate in the association's Jolly Holly toy drive by placing an unwrapped gift under the tree to support children in need.
According to Thomas, the celebration also will bring officials together to share their wishes for the town.
“My wish for this holiday season is that we move quickly through the pandemic and get back to normalcy,” Blouin said.
At Bradley Park, the town will light a 16-foot-tall Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m. tonight.
The park also was the site of the Hanukkah in Bradley Park celebration on Sunday. Candle lightings will take place at 5 p.m. each evening during the eight days of the holiday.
rharper@pbpost.com
@rachida_harper
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Holiday festivities in Palm Beach return after COVID year
