Syracuse is getting ready for its "Home For the Holidays” celebration and all eyes are on Clinton Square as crews prepare to set-up the centerpiece, a 42-foot-tall LED tree.
It will take three days to assemble and won’t be officially lit until the day after Thanksgiving.Mayor Ben Walsh says it’s also a time for shoppers to explore the local stores and restaurants downtown has to offer.
“If you’re looking for a special gift for a special someone, downtown is where you do that,” Walsh said, “and the business here really embrace the holiday season. This is a time for them to take advantage of the crowds coming down for the other events and want to encourage people to do that.”
Before malls were built, downtown was ‘the place’ to shop. However, over the past three decades the city has gradually seen a resurgence of shops and restaurants and the redevelopment of Armory and Hanover Squares and hotels.
The Downtown Committee’s Merike Treier says the holidays have a way of introducing visitors to what Syracuse has to offer.
“The different shops, the local artisans, the savory and delicious meals you can enjoy throughout the year. The holidays are a fantastic time to create those new memories, create those connections,” Treier said.
The annual “Window Wonderland” contest returns when businesses dress up their windows with holiday scenes and décor.
The tree lighting in ClintonSquare is set for Friday, November 28th at 7:00 p.m. with music and entertainment an hour before. Five lucky children will help Mayor Walsh light the tree.
