PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release November 26, 2012 Contact: Michael A. Lumbis Planner, 785-7730

DOWNTOWN TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012, AT 5:15 P.M. On Friday, November 30, 2012 at 5:15 p.m., City of Watertown Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham and the members of the City Council will host the annual Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony on Public Square in Watertown. The holiday festivities will begin at 5:15 p.m. with a performance by The Jefferson Singers from Jefferson Community College, The Islanders Barbershop Chorus, and The Northern Blend Chorus. Following the choral performances, the Mayor will turn on the Citys Christmas tree light and music display at 6:00 p.m. The music and light display features thousands of LED lights that are synchronized to a variety of holiday songs. The music and light display will run every 30 minutes each night from 4:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. from November 30, 2012 through January 2, 2013. Santa Claus will be visiting from the North Pole and will be greeting children in the Public Square Gazebo starting at 5:15 p.m. and lasting through 6:30 p.m. Mulled cider, coffee and hot cocoa will also be served free of charge courtesy of the Downtown Business Association. This year, Council Member Roxanne M. Burns, along with the Mayor and entire City Council, asks that attendees bring items to donate to the Watertown Urban Mission, such as non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items, to help those in our community who are less fortunate. A collection site will be set up by the Watertown Urban Mission before and during the event. Beginning at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the event, all travel lanes on the north side of Public Square will be closed to traffic and on street parking will be restricted. Temporary barricades, traffic cones and signage will be placed and a detour route will be established for the event. Parking for the event will be available in the J.B. Wise Parking Lot or any one of the many free City parking lots in the downtown area.