Music, Santa, tree lighting to welcome holiday season
Participants in Macy’s Light Up the Square celebration will be back in person this year, ready to kick off the holiday season with the annual Fountain Square tree lighting ceremony.
Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and continue throughout the evening with live music, an appearance by Santa Claus and fireworks.
You might remember that last year, the public was not invited to a lighting ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the lighting was broadcast on television.
You also might recall that the tree was a bit scraggly when it was put up—a perfect symbol for 2020, a year many would like to forget—and it became the butt of jokes and a social-media laugh. However, by the time the tree was lit, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) crews had puffed up the limbs and turned the tree into a beautiful Fountain Square addition.
This year’s Christmas tree—a 56-foot Norway spruce from northern Ohio—was placed Nov. 6 on Fountain Square, and the decorating began almost immediately. The official lighting of the tree will occur at 7:25 p.m. Friday.
Cincinnati Enquirer history writer Jeff Suess has reported that the first community tree on Fountain Square was put up in 1913. The 45-foot tree with 2,000 electric lights was sponsored by the Cincinnati Women’s Club, and the City of Cincinnati then took over the tradition a few years later.
The UC Health Ice Rink on Fountain Square opened Nov. 6 and will remain open seven days a week, weather permitting, through Feb. 21. Bumper cars also will be available on the ice rink, which will be divided by skaters and bumper car riders. Reservations are available.
The CVG Winter Wonder Light Show, an eight-minute light show on the ice, will be shown on the rink every 90 minutes Wednesday through Saturday between 4 and 9:30 p.m. Nov. 26-Dec. 16.
Also, plan to catch Downtown Dazzle on Saturdays from Nov. 27 through Dec. 18, where you can see Santa rappel from a downtown skyrise and then watch a fireworks show. Music and festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.
Fountain Square is located at 520 Vine St. in the heart of downtown Cincinnati.
Further information:
Macy’s Light Up the Square schedule of events, Nov. 26:
· 10 a.m.—Ice rink and Fountain Square Bar open.
· 6 p.m.—Live music from 2nd Wind Band.
· 7 p.m.—Live broadcast with WLWT-TV Channel 5.
· 7:25 p.m.—Tree lighting ceremony.
· 7:30 to 9 p.m.—Live music from 2nd Wind Band.
Refreshments: The Fountain Square Bar will be open seven days a week, offering hot and cold beverages (hours) including hot chocolate, beer, wine and select spirits. The full-service bar is outfitted with heaters and offers seating along the perimeter and 10 café tables. No outside alcohol is permitted on Fountain Square. Bags and coolers are subject to search.
Parking: Available in the Fountain Square Garage with entrances on both Vine Street and Walnut Street. Additional parking is available a block away at the 84.51° Garage.
