Grove Christmas Tree

The Grove Christmas Tree is an approximately 100-foot Christmas tree that is lit every year at The Grove at Farmer's Market in Los Angeles, California.[1][2][3][4][5][6] In 2002, it was the tallest Christmas tree in the Los Angeles area and attracted about 90,000 visitors a day during the holiday season.[7]

The Grove Christmas Tree in November 2009

History

The tradition of lighting The Grove Christmas Tree takes place in mid-November after it was begun in 2002 by real estate developer and businessman Rick J. Caruso. He aimed to make the tree the centerpiece of his retail and entertainment complex, The Grove in Los Angeles, during the Christmas season. In time, the popularity of the annual lighting ceremony eventually rivaled that of the famed Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting[8] mid-town Manhattan, New York. The Grove Christmas Tree measures 100 to 110 feet while the Rockefeller Center tree is only about 75 to 90 feet.[9]

The first white fir tree used for the event was harvested from the Mount Shasta region in Northern California in 2010.[4] The following year, a 100-foot white fir was decorated with more than 10,000 lights and 15,000 ornaments,[2] setting the precedent for successive Christmas trees for The Grove at Farmers Market.

Tree Lighting

Among the performers who have graced the event are operatic acts Il Divo and Jackie Evancho, pop singers The Backstreet Boys, Michael Bolton, Far East Movement, Colbie Caillat, Sean Kingston, Gavin DeGraw, and Robin Thicke as well as American Idol alumni Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, and Phillip Phillips.[10] Caruso’s Top Hats Dancers Rachel Montez Collins and Kathryn Burns have also showcased their famous act. Actor and celebrity insider Mario Lopez hosts[11] the annual celebration.

For the 10th anniversary of the Christmas tree lighting, The Grove partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for its “Season of Wishes” campaign. Christmas lights and baubles covered the white fir tree as well as everything else at The Grove. The evening showcased artificial snowfall, bubbles, and a fireworks finale.

KCBS-TV, the Los Angeles area affiliate (and West Coast flagship station) of CBS, televises The Grove Christmas Tree lighting live every year. It is syndicated to hundreds of television stations across the United States, including most of the CBS network's owned-and-operated stations and other affiliates as well.[12]

References
  1. Foxhall, Emily (November 19, 2013). "Shopping center Christmas trees compete for needling rights: Malls pay a premium to be able to brag that their trees are the tallest around. But some now downplay such clear-cut competition". Los Angeles Times.
  2. Wells, Jason (October 30, 2012). "100-Foot Christmas tree arrives at Americana at Brand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. Deng, Julia & DeMilta, Josh (October 24, 2011). "Christmas Tree Arrives At The Grove". Annenberg TV News.
  4. "100 – Foot Christmas Tree Arrives at the Grove". KCBS-TV. November 1, 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  5. Ebright, Olsen & Hicks, Reva (November 2, 2009). "The Grove Must Really Love Christmas: One of L.A's trendiest shopping spots gets into the holiday spirit early". KNBC.
  6. Chang, Andrea (November 7, 2008). "Free holiday events: Christmas tree lightings". Los Angeles Times.
  7. "The Grove Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration". Festivals.com. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  8. Zaitchik, Alexander (December 1, 2010). "America's tallest Christmas Trees". NBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  9. Arnold, Elizabeth. "Christmas Trees Worth Traveling For". USA Today. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  10. "Phillip Phillips at The Grove's 10th Annual Tree Lighting". Phillip Phillips Online. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  11. "The Grove's 10th Annual Star Studded Tree Lighting". Wzra TV (blog). Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. "Miss The Grove Tree Lighting? Watch it on TV!". The Grove LA. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

See also

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