Long Beach Celebrates Holidays 67-Foot Tree Lighting Ceremony: Photos

LONG BEACH, CA — Thousands of people gathered at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in Downtown for the 8th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Monday night.

Prominent members of the community celebrated the start of the holiday season and spoke about what community really means. Outgoing Mayor Robert Garcia, who was elected as the state representative for California's 42nd district in November's election, said he was sad to be leading his last lighting ceremony for the city.

"I want to just take a minute to just reflect this holiday season," Garcia said to the crowd. "Let's just reflect and put good energy, this holiday spirit to all the people in our city that deserve our respect our love and dignity."

This year's tree is the city's biggest yet, standing at 67 feet tall, which Garcia and others boasted was taller than Disneyland's Christmas tree.

A sparkling fireworks display lit the night sky after the switch was flipped to light up the tree.

Attendees of the free event enjoyed food trucks from restaurants in the area, photo opportunities, live music performances and ballet performances featured in "The Nutcracker." District 1 councilwoman Mary Zendejas said she was honored to celebrate this event that showed Long Beach was a big city with a small town feel.

"Each one of you here today is why Long Beach is so great and so beautiful," Zendejas said. "I just want to thank each and every one of you for coming, and I want to wish you a very, very, very happy holiday season."