Tree Lighting

I honestly almost avoided this gathering in the wake of recent mass shooting /bombing scenarios, but the Friends of Rittenhouse really pulled off a very special tree lighting event.

The caroling and sales pitch preamble might have run a little too annoying and a little too long, and perhaps it was because they could have been waiting for Santa who we were told was “stuck in traffic on Broad Street” (sure… his sleigh doesn’t contend with traffic, people!). The microphone was a little too quiet to be heard over the increasingly grumpy crowd. BUT, the countdown excitement and gorgeous lighting in Rittenhouse Square Park almost made up for it 😉 There was also a point where a large portion of the crowd sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer together, which was uber adorable.

I was pleasantly surprised when my son pointed over a sea of heads to the tiny stage where a jolly older gentleman in a big red suit had (finally!) appeared, and said “Santa!” I did not know that this baby had been paying so close attention. I guess the magic of Christmas is just hard to resist.