Downtown Tree Lighting Draws Crowd, Santa Claus

Not even free hot chocolate and bags of candy could distract some of State College’s youngest residents from crowding around a stage on South Allen Street, gazing at the mystical Santa-tracker and waiting for the man of the season to arrive. 

The annual State College tree lighting kicked off after sunset at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday on the cordoned-off 100 block of South Allen Street, where leafless trees, wrapped in strands of white lights, sparkled. The State College Lions Club provided snacks and drinks for patrons while the State College Food bank collected canned good and Toys for Tots accepted donations in the form of new and unopened toys. 

Across the street, at the Allen Street gates, an enormous spruce tree sat unlit. 

Children bundled in their winter gear sang Christmas carols and stared diligently into the sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa on his sleigh. 

Finally, he arrived on a Alpha Fire Company truck and with one lucky child, lit up the tree. 

Check out some of the sights and sounds from the tree lighting: