You are reading

Elmhurst kicks off holiday season with annual tree lighting at Veteran’s Grove Playground

Veteran’s Grove holiday lighting ceremony held on Nov. 25. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Dec. 2, 2024 By Ramy Mahmoud and Queens Post Staff

Elmhurst residents came together to celebrate the start of the holiday season on Monday, Nov. 25, for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Veteran’s Grove Playground.

The festive event, which kicked off at 5 p.m. on Judge St. and Whitney Ave. in Elmhurst, featured a tree lighting ceremony, holiday caroling, and a special visit from Santa Claus.

Santa posing at the entrance of the playground. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

The holiday celebration was made possible by the efforts of local community leaders, including Council Member Shekar Krishnan, who emphasized the importance of the event in bringing the community together.

Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

“We’re here at the annual tradition at Veterans Grove Park lighting our holiday tree,” Krishnan said. “If you look around, you see the very best of the community. It’s all of us celebrating the holidays together.” Krishnan expressed he was very proud to work with Community Board 4 and the New Town Civic Association for the event.

Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Assembly Member Catalina Cruz also spoke about the significance of the event. “This is a wonderful yearly celebration of community members, the community board, and everyone who just loves the holidays,” Cruz remarked. “We get together yearly, and even the little ones are just as excited.”

Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Christian Cassagnol, District Manager for Community Board 4, reflected on the long-standing tradition. “We’ve been doing this for many, many years,” Cassagnol said. “It’s a collaboration with the local elected officials and civic organizations. Many organizations come together, and we organize free events for the kids.”

Cassagnol reminded everyone that this is part of a two-series event—the first one being at Veteran’s Grove, and the second one is scheduled for December 4 at Moore Homestead Playground located at Broadway and 45th Ave and 82nd St. also in Elmhurst, which is anticipated to be a larger event.

Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

The Elmhurst Holiday Tree Lighting is just one of many seasonal festivities in the area, fostering a spirit of unity and celebration among local residents. The event was also a showcase of the community’s commitment to creating a festive and welcoming environment for all ages.

Photos by Ramy Mahmoud

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Four injured in Queensboro Hill house fire fueled by e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries: FDNY fire marshals

FDNY fire marshals determined that lithium-ion batteries sparked a fire in a Queensboro Hill townhouse that injured three residents and a firefighter were injured a few blocks south of Kissena Corridor Park on Friday morning.

The blaze broke out in a home at 142-33 60th Ave. just before 5:30 a.m. The first firefighters on the scene found heavy fire emanating from the first floor that may have been sparked and intensified by the presence of lithium-ion batteries and a half-dozen e-bikes in the basement of the home.

Mayor Adams shares 90-day progress of Operation Restore Roosevelt

Jan. 22, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

Operation Restore Roosevelt, a 90-day multi-agency initiative launched in October 2024 by Mayor Eric Adams and Council Member Francisco Moya to address quality-of-life issues along Roosevelt Avenue, has resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests and over 11,500 summonses. The operation focused on addressing community concerns such as prostitution, illegal brothels, unlicensed vending, retail theft, and other public safety challenges.