East Village Tree Lighting Scheduled for Dec. 11 in Tompkins Square Park

EAST VILLAGE, NY — East Village residents are invited to attend the 25th annual holiday tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park from 4-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. This is a yearly East Village celebration hosted by the Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition and East Village Parks Conservancy, EV Grieve reports.

The tree lighting is held at the southeast corner of the Central Lawn. Albert Fabozzi, President of the Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition, planted the eight-foot evergreen in 1992 to honor his late partner and park advocate Glenn Barnett, who died from AIDS. The tree is now more than 3o feet tall.

Fabozzi has lived in the East Village for over 30 years. He was the chairperson of Community Board 3 in 1992, when the tree was planted.

“I think my boyfriend would be very happy if he was alive today to see this,” Fabozzi said to The Villager.

Attendees can expect holiday music performed by the Carolers of Olde New York from the Theatre for the New City. Refreshments like hot chocolate and apple cider will be provided from the Ukrainian eatery Veselka.

The tree-lighting takes place the second Sunday of December each year. The tree stays lit until the end of January.

“My biggest joy is when I plug in the tree,” Fabozzi said.

Photos by squirrel83/Flickr