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Macy’s tree lighting draws a crowd

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Jeremy C. Fox November 26, 2010 07:29 PM

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(Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com)

Macy’s Christmas tree sits atop the department store’s marquee.

By Jeremy C. Fox, Town Correspondent

Holiday shoppers thronged Downtown Crossing on Friday evening for the annual Macy's Christmas tree lighting.

The event was hosted by Bill Skimmerhorn, the director of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and featured an appearance by Boston Bruin Milan Lucic, recounting the story behind the famous 19th-century newspaper editorial “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

The program also included musical performances by the Boston Children’s Chorus, the cast of the Lyric Stage Company production of “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,” Broadway singer Ann Hampton Callaway, alt-rocker Josh Golden and Ariana Grande from the Nickelodeon show “Victorious.”

The 42-foot spruce, winner of Macy's Perfect Tree Contest, was provided by Barbara and Richard Campo of Dracut, Mass.

While some visitors only paused in their shopping to take in the performances, for others the tree lighting is an annual tradition.

“We came just for the tree lighting,” said Pat Bocchino, 50, of Georgetown, Mass. “We do it every year.”

Bocchino had come with her daughter Jackie Bocchino, 21, and a group of their extended family—Bocchino’s sister Beverly Hijazi, 58, Hijazi’s grandson Zack Bradway, 8, and their brother’s children, Caitlyn Haneffant, 19, and Billy Haneffant, 14.

The family comes each year to the Faneuil Hall tree lighting as well, though this year a closed station on the Blue Line caused them to miss the lighting when their shuttle bus became stuck in traffic. They made sure to leave early for the Macy’s tree lighting so they would be there when the show began.

The family said they enjoy coming to the tree lightings to see the large crowds and all the smiling faces.

"I like to be around all the people," said Bocchino.

“Everybody’s happy,” said Hijazi.

Jackie Bocchino said she’s up for any activity with a holiday theme.

“I love Christmas, so I will do anything Christmas,” she said.

Email Jeremy C. Fox at jeremycfox@gmail.com.