{"id":66744,"date":"2025-12-10T14:34:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/66744\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T14:34:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:34:30","slug":"bronxs-little-italy-held-their-annual-tree-lighting-ceremony-to-kick-off-the-holiday-season-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/66744\/","title":{"rendered":"Bronx\u2019s Little Italy held their annual tree lighting ceremony to kick off the holiday season \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"IMG_1696\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Local residents gathered for Little Italy\u2019s annual tree lighting ceremony. <\/p>\n

Photo by Sadie Brown<\/p>\n

\t\t Search our comprehensive guide to things to do in the Bronx<\/a> for more local events \u2014 or submit your own<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The Bronx\u2019s Little Italy held their annual tree lighting<\/a> ceremony at Ciccarone Park this past weekend, where families and neighbors came together to celebrate the holiday season.<\/p>\n

The Belmont Business Involvement District partnered with Fordham University, the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo to host a toy giveaway for local families and a meet and greet with Santa, who sang holiday carols with families and loved ones.<\/p>\n

Local businesses in Little Italy also provided Italian cookies and hot chocolate to warm up the crowd while they waited for the tree countdown.
\n\"\"A family poses with Santa at the Bronx\u2019s Little Italy holiday celebration. Photo by Sadie Brown\n<\/p>\n

Frank Franz, executive board member of the Belmont Business Improvement District, said the celebration started as an idea of how he could get the neighborhood together for the holiday season. It started out with just a few people and a small tree, then came the hot chocolate, cookies and the carolers.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we\u2019ve got a 25 foot tree,\u201d Franz told the Bronx Times. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a nice crowd and give away hundreds of presents for kids in the neighborhood.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Claire Bodger, a student at Fordham interning at the Belmont Business Improvement District said that this year, they received so many donations that they weren\u2019t close to running out of presents to give out to the kids. She even witnessed one little girl happily unwrap a toy she specifically asked Santa to bring her for Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping everyone is having a happy, healthy holiday season and that we can make as many kids happy as possible with the toys we have,\u201d Bodger said.\n<\/p>\n

After the speeches slowed down, Franz gave Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham University, the responsibility of switching on the tree\u2019s lights as the crowd counted down.\n<\/p>\n

Tetlow said the university is lucky to be a part of Little Italy from it\u2019s very inception.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOur students live in this community, they eat in this community, they celebrate, they volunteer,\u201d Tetlow said. \u201cThey learn as much from this neighborhood as they do from us.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The audience counted down from six, to light up the tree.
\n\"\"Borough President Vanessa Gibson poses with local residents in front of the Little Italy Christmas Tree. Photo by Lesley Cosme Torres\n<\/p>\n

Shanice Morgan, a Bronx resident, came out to the celebration with her husband and children.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very festive and my son loves the music,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cI got the message from his school and we decided to come check it out.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Vanessa L. Gibson, the Bronx Borough President, stopped by the tree lighting to celebrate with local residents and sing along to \u201cFeliz Navidad\u201d with Santa and his helpers.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis really brings the community together. It\u2019s a festive time, a joyous time. We want to bring smiles to our children\u2019s faces because we know families are going through a lot,\u201d Gibson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can bring them together to light the tree and begin the holiday season, and give out toys and hot chocolate, it\u2019s a big deal. For us, as leaders, it\u2019s important to remind our borough that we\u2019re always here for the good and the challenging times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sadie Brown contributed to this story.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Reach Lesley Cosme Torres at lcosmetorres@schnepsmedia.com. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> and follow us on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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