The holiday season officially kicks off this week with – not one but – two Christmas tree lightings in the Hub. Tonight, December 2, Mayor Walsh, The Boston Parks Department, and the Friends of Copley Square will host the city’s annual Copley Square Tree Lighting.

Starting at 5 p.m., attendees can catch a performance from Boston Pops members and the Trinity Church Choristers during the Copley Square Tree Lighting. The event will be emceed by Janet Wu of WHDH-TV. Following the event, the Fairmont Copley Plaza will host a family reception for all in attendance. The reception will include treats from Georgetown Cupcake and Pain d’Avignon, which currently has a holiday pop-up bakery in the hotel.

But if you can’t make it tonight, there’s still one more Christmas tree lighting happening this week – and it happens to be the biggie. This Thursday, December 4, Boston’s 73rd Annual Official Tree Lighting will take place in the Boston Common from 6 to 8 p.m.

Of course, this tree lighting involves the official Christmas tree from Nova Scotia and marks the 43rd year that Nova Scotia has donated a Christmas tree to Boston “as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor,” notes a City of Boston release. Attendees can also expect to see cast members from Motown The Musical, The Voice contestant Brittany Butler, and the New England Patriots Cheerleaders (among other special guests).

These two Christmas tree lightings (plus tasty treats and entertainment) prove that this month really is the most wonderful time of the year.

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