Harlem Park Invites Neighbors To Hang Ornaments On Christmas Tree

HARLEM, NY — Forced to cancel its annual Christmas tree lighting celebration this year, leaders of St. Nicholas Park have come up with a creative way for Harlemites to celebrate the holidays safely.

Friends of St. Nicholas Park announced Monday that this year's tree, which sits on the north side of the 135th Street Plaza, will be lit up Saturday and glow each night throughout the holiday season.

But because of the pandemic, and since the park falls within the Upper Manhattan "yellow zone," neighbors will be unable to gather at the tree to make ornaments and decorate it, as they have in years past.

Instead, the Friends are asking Harlem residents to bring their own homemade ornaments to the tree anytime after 5 p.m. Saturday, when it will be lit up.

Residents can post photos of their ornaments to social media and tag Friends of St. Nicholas Park — @fosnpnyc on Intsagram, or @stnickpark on Twitter — to show the group what they've created.

"We are looking forward to our community hanging ornaments that represent their own holiday traditions and Harlem spirit!" said Karen Asner, a member of Friends of St. Nicholas Park, in an email.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Friends of St. Nicholas Park (@fosnpnyc)