50,000 visitors enjoyed fireworks, music, skating, and Toronto’s Christmas tree lighting at the Cavalcade of Lights

48th annual Cavalcade of Lights on Nov. 29 at Nathan Phillips Square.
Photo: Yuliya Prisyazhnaya/The Dialog

On Nov.29 the 48th annual Cavalcade of Lights lit up the sky at Nathan Phillips Square. At 7 p.m. the opening ceremony took place, beginning with the illumination of Toronto’s Christmas tree delivered from Bancroft, Ontario, and selected last year as this year’s best.

This beautiful 60 foot tall pine tree was decorated with 12,500 feet of colourful LED lights and 700 Christmas decorations, according to the City of Toronto, which will stand throughout the Christmas holidays for everyone to see.

This year’s event had a hip hop Christmas theme, and breathtaking fireworks above City Hall, which amazed 50,000 people, according to Justine Palinska, marketing supervisor of economic development & culture at City Hall.

The event also featured, “Canadian hip hop royalty including performances by Maestro Fresh Wes, Kardinal Offishall, and jazz and soul singer Kellylee Evans,” said Palinska. “An a cappella group called Retrocity also performed, as well as Collective Elite Dancers.”

The bright lights were followed by the illumination of moving white and light blue snowflakes on the walls of City Hall and surrounding buildings.

“A concert sponsored by Great Gulf featuring Shad followed the fireworks, and the audience continued the evening to the sounds of DJ Grouch on the skating rink for a DJ skating party,” said Palinska.

During the live performance visitors could also skate on the rink that had been decorated with giant, shiny snowflakes.

It looked like a Christmas fairy tale in the middle of the city.