The 100-foot Christmas Tree is up at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave.

Can you believe the 100-foot Christmas Tree is already up? Well, it is, and the grand opening is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, with the tree lighting as soon as it gets dark, and a special Art & Jazz on the Avenue celebration in downtown Delray Beach until 10 p.m.
“This is the 15th year Delray Beach has put up the 100-foot Christmas Tree,” Leah Knepper, public relations manager with the downtown Delray Beach Marketing Cooperative, said.
“Santa will arrive on a fire truck at 5:30 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the tree for a child up to age 16. All toys will be donated to Sunny 104.3 FM’s Sunny Santa’s and Delray Citizens for Delray Police.”
A gallery stroll will take place downtown and five musical performances will take place on closed off Atlantic Avenue east of Swinton Avenue.
“The entertainment highlights will include Hook, Jazz Stream, Jazz Survivors, Ron Bivona and Southern Dance Theatre, in addition to the Tina Lilly Carolers. Take the opportunity to start your holiday shopping, many downtown shoppes and galleries will be offering one-night-only promotions,” Knepper said.
First Night® 2009 buttons will also go on sale that night. First Night is New Year’s Eve, and buttons are $10 in advance and $15 on Dec. 31. All proceeds from First Night button sales support First Night artists and programs. Buttons will be on sale at the following downtown locations: 100-Foot Christmas Tree, Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, Delray Beach City Hall, Delray Beach Public Library, Delray News and Tobacco, and Old School Square’s Crest Theatre.
The Downtown Roundabout free shuttle bus will run until 11 p.m. For more information on Delray Beach’s holiday festivities, call 561-279-1380, ext. 3 or visit www.DowntownDelrayBeach.com.