The tree in 2008. Photo by Ingrid Taylar, About.com
This Thursday night from 5pm until 7:30pm, Rec & Park is hosting a special holiday celebration featuring small rides for children, live entertainment, a cookie factory, arts and crafts, and a visit from Santa.
During the event, they’ll officially light up the giant Monterey Cypress in front of McLaren Lodge. The lighting will take place just after dusk (sunset is at 4:28pm). McLaren Lodge is located at 501 Stanyan Street at Fell, just inside the park.
The tree lighting tradition began in 1929 when John McLaren, the grandfather of Golden Gate Park and San Francisco’s first park superintendent, began a holiday tradition of lighting trees along a mile-long stretch of Fell Street that ended in front of McLaren Lodge, his home at the time.
Happy Holidays!
Sarah B.
Could do without the Obama avatar.
It’s a pic from 2008, so it would have been right after the election and appropriate.
Its called a CHRISTMAS TREE not a holiday tree, same way a menorah isn’t a holiday candle. I am so sick of political correctness, everyone just has to accept CHRISTMAS is a christan holiday and a national one too. Only 4.7% of the US population is non christian so marketing and all other things should be geared toward CHRISTMAS, not these micro religions that want it called holiday because it makes them feel uncomfotable to say CHRISTMAS.
Off by about 20% there, Rob. http://b27.cc.trincoll.edu/weblogs/AmericanReligionSurvey-ARIS/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf
I agree, call it a damn Christmas Tree like it is. The only ones getting offended are the over PC Christian liberals. And Atheists. Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists could give a damn what it’s called.
Hope Santa brings you cranky folks some peace this holiday
Ditto, David!
Since non-christians are the minority in this country let’s neglect them like we do to people of color, LGBTQ folks, and people with disabilities! Awesome idea Rob!
Really folks. Look at the pretty tree. They could call it Bob. I’m just glad it’s there.
Oh my, it’s McLaren (NOT McClaren), as is John McLaren and McLaren Lodge.
Oh no, I made a Mc-stake! Thanks T Abad
I took my kids to this last night and I must say, it was half-assed. several rides broke down right away, the power kept going on and off turning the lights on and off inside the kids craft tents, and santa was an hour late to light the tree and see the kids thanks to the event’s MC and assorted moron politicians who felt the need to gladhandle each other endlessly on the mic at what should have been a kids event. hundreds of little kids waiting in the cold for Santa while Ed Lee & co stroked each other away.