City tree-lighting
celebrates 20th year

The Friends of Honolulu City Lights will celebrate 20 years of making the city sparkle during the holiday season.

The celebration will take place Saturday at City Hall. Festivities start at 4 p.m., followed by the official tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Mayor Jeremy Harris and a surprise guest are expected to attend the ceremony to switch on the lights of a 65-foot Norfolk Island pine at 6:30 p.m., when all holiday lights in the downtown area will turn on simultaneously.

The public is also welcome to attend a special holiday service to be held at Kawaiaha'o Church at 5 p.m.

Opening-night festivities for Honolulu City Lights has become one of the most anticipated holiday events on Oahu. This year's theme is "20 Years of Sparkle."

The Public Workers' Electric Light Parade, including marching bands and decorated floats, will start at River Street at 6 p.m. Participants will proceed on King Street and arrive in front of Honolulu Hale at 6:30 p.m.

Santa will be on one of the floats expected to arrive at Sky Gate about 7:30 p.m. Children will be able to visit Santa and have their picture taken with him until 9 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m. a two-hour concert will be feature the Liberty Bells, Jordan Segundo, Maila Gibson, Henry Kapono and All-4-One.

Festivities will be broadcast live on 'Olelo Channel 54 and rebroadcast on the same channel at 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. The show will air again at 8 p.m. on Channel 56 on Christmas Day, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 26 on Channel 53 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 27 on Channel 54.

The public is invited to view the city employees' Christmas tree exhibit and holiday wreath display from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Santa is expected to make appearances at the courtyard between Saturday and Dec. 24. For a schedule, call the Mayor's Culture and Arts Hotline at 527-5666.

Admission is free. Attendees are welcomed to bring a wrapped toy for the Marine Corps Reserves "Toys for Tots" donation box. The donation drive will run through Dec. 17.