STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Port Richmond’s annual holiday tree lighting drew families and residents to Port Richmond Avenue on Friday, Dec. 5, for the community’s fifth year marking the season with what organizers say is Staten Island’s largest tree.
Port Richmond shines bright with history and holiday cheer. Once a colonial port village in the 1600s, it grew into an industrial hub before reinventing itself as a vibrant, multicultural community.(Courtesy of the North Shore Alliance)
The 60-foot tree, which organizers describe as the second-largest tree lighting in New York City, anchored an evening of festivities that began at 6 p.m. with a walk along the avenue from Hatfield Place to Rainbow Avenue, where visitors could explore a Christmas village and local shops. The main event started at 7 p.m. with entertainment from NY Dance Company, Port Richmond High School Marching Band and PS-68 students.
One of Staten Island’s oldest neighborhoods, Port Richmond blends deep roots with modern diversity. Its story of transformation mirrors the glow of its annual holiday celebration. (Courtesy of the North Shore Alliance)
Vice Chairman Mario Buonviaggio of the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance said the event reflects broader ambitions for the neighborhood.
“Our mission is very clear: to put Port Richmond back on the map, to bring back family-centered events, to revive our neighborhood with exciting celebrations, and to welcome everyone into our community,” Buonviaggio said. “We aim to make Port Richmond Avenue a true Holiday Tourist Avenue.”
This house was a burned out shell about four years ago. Port Richmond’s Christian Construction has rehabilitated the house and now calls it home as its main headquarters and epicenter of the neighborhood’s annual Christmas tree lighting. (Courtesy of the North Shore Alliance)
Buonviaggio said organizers hope to secure a 102-foot Norway spruce for next year’s event, which would surpass the height of the Rockefeller Center tree. He emphasized that the celebration comes at no cost to the community.
Christian Construction, a sponsor of the event, said the company was drawn to the vision of modeling Port Richmond’s tree lighting after Rockefeller Center’s tradition.
This tree was cut from a North Shore residence. It is over 60 feet tall. Next years tree has been sourced from a family from Nicolosi Drive. (Courtesy of the North Shore Alliance)
“Because of his efforts, numerous businesses stepped up, large equipment was secured to assist in transporting the tree, and major retailers donated thousands of lights,” the company said in a statement. “What he has accomplished is unprecedented, and we are proud to contribute to this growing community tradition.”
Vincent Innocente, whose family has lived in Port Richmond for decades, said the event brings together families and the diverse community.
“This is a great start to a wonderful tradition for Port Richmond,” Innocente said. “I can’t wait until next year.”
Cafe Con Pan on Port Richmond Avenue features Mexican-style holiday creations. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Scott Lopez, co-owner of Café Con Pan, praised the celebration and the community’s talent.
“This is truly a remarkable event—another fantastic celebration orchestrated by Mario and the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance,” Lopez said.
Port Richmond’s story is as vibrant as its holiday lights. One of Staten Island’s oldest neighborhoods, it began as a colonial port village in the 1600s and grew into a bustling industrial hub by the 19th century, thanks to shipyards, ferries, and factories along the Kill Van Kull. Though its waterfront commerce declined in the mid-20th century, Port Richmond reinvented itself as a multicultural community with family-run businesses and rich traditions—making it a neighborhood where history and resilience shine as brightly as its 60-foot holiday tree.
Port Richmond’s past and present shine together. Born as a bustling port in the 1600s, it now thrives as a cultural crossroads where history and community spirit illuminate the season.(Courtesy of the North Shore Alliance)