By Janaki Chadha

Community Board 7’s adding some spark to the holidays with its annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. 

Hundreds will converge at Mosholu Parkway and Bainbridge for the neighborhood event on Dec. 11 at 6p.m. The line-up includes caroling from elementary and middle school students and, of course, an appearance from Santa Claus.

“Seeing everybody come out and get together as a community is nice, because if we didn’t have it, I don’t think there’s another event that we’d get so many people out for during the holidays,” said Barbara Stronczer, vice chair of CB7. The Board covers Norwood, Bedford Park, University Heights, and parts of Kingsbridge and Fordham.

The upcoming tree lighting is the latest Yuletide event as the Bronx settles into the holidays. The season of giving was felt more so at several business improvement districts.

 

On Dec. 5, the Fordham Road BID’s tree lighting ceremony at Muller Park & Plaza drew nearly 2700 people despite rain. Crowds formed a line that stretched two city blocks, according to Daniel Bernstein, the BID’s co-executive director. Many in line were children, awaiting the chance to chat with Santa Claus, who stopped by. Children were given gifts, courtesy of the BID.

“They could go to a mall and see Santa Claus,” said Bernstein. “They could go indoors, and not have to stand out in the cold and the rain, but they do it every year.”

The number of people who attended doubled from last year, which could be attributed to the much heavier rain then. To Bernstein the turnout was still unexpected. “I thought that we would maybe have 2,000,” he said, “but there was more.”

He continued, “What I’m beginning to realize is that it’s not so much that you’re giving out free stuff, because I used to always think the word ‘free’ attracts everybody, but it’s not so much that, I think this means a lot more than that.”

This is the 10th installment of the Christmas-themed gathering for the BID, the borough’s biggest commercial district. It marks the start of its holiday rush, where some BID merchants will offer discounted good through Dec. 21.

Two days before, the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District decked the holidays with its 3rd annual Holiday Tree extravaganza. Rhina Valentin, known as “La Reina del Barrio,” played host to the cheery event that saw a real-life tree shine bright at Greenstreets Park, which edges at the entrance of the northwest Bronx BID.

“Shop local, shop local!” shouted Valentin, who later ushered in Santa Claus.

Hundreds of children crowded the park on Dec. 3 and were treated to hot chocolate and presents courtesy of the BID.

“For us the most important thing was each child left with a gift,” said Marcia Cameron, serving as the BID’s executive director. “Each year, we continue to improve,” she said of the event, which just celebrated its third run, nearly tripling in attendance this year when compared to last.

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. also jumpstarted the holidays with his office’s own tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 4 at Borough Hall. Strands of yellow lights hug a natural tree in Borough Hall, where Diaz hosted several children wearing Santa hats.