Tree lighting and trolley rides bring cheer to Bay Ridge

All was merry and bright at Fifth Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway on Saturday, December 12, when the Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue BID hosted its third annual tree lighting.

At the festive event, guests were entertained by local school chorus singers who sang Christmas carols.

Beforehand, there was a free trolley for the children and their parents to enjoy, that rode along the strip between 65th and 86th Streets allowing guests to visit the variety of stores along the way.

Santa and his Elf accompanied trolley passengers and gave out candy canes. The trolley rides were provided from 12-4 p.m., while the tree lighting was held at 4:30 p.m.

The 86th Street BID held its tree lighting and trolley rides the following day, on Sunday December 13, as the neighborhood was able to enjoy two consecutive days of Christmas cheer.

“The trolley rides were a huge success. The weather was nice, so a lot of kids were out,” recalled Executive Director of both BIDs Patrick Condren, further mentioning that “Santa did a great job.” About 200 people came through while the trolley was running, he noted.

If you missed the event, never fear. The trolley returns on Saturday, December 19 for one last afternoon of joyful journeying, giving folks a chance to catch Santa before the big day.

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