Get yourself in the holiday spirit with a stroll down to historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace where for the fifth year in a row, the Marketplace sparkles with Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza, which takes place from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm until Sunday, January 1, 2017. Blink! is truly one of the most notable holiday happenings in Boston as it lights up the sky and makes everyone a bit jollier.  The state-of-the-art light and sound extravaganza features more than 350,000 LED lights that dance seamlessly to holiday music from the Boston Pops.  The tree is located on Marketplace Center, near the East End of Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

The tradition of holiday trees in Boston can be traced back to 1941 when the city raised and lit the first tree.  Since 1971, the Boston Christmas tree has been given to the city as a gift by the citizens of Halifax, Nova Scotia in thanks for Boston’s relief efforts after the devastating explosion in 1917 that killed an estimated 2,000 people and destroyed much of the city.

Holiday trees at Faneuil Hall Marketplace have been adorning the historic location for many years, creating a wonderful tradition.  According to Carol Troxell, President of Faneuil Hall Merchants Association who has been working at the Marketplace for 30-plus years, the former Faneuil Hall Flower Market where the old greenhouse was located was the only place in the downtown area where residents could buy real Christmas trees, fresh greenery and garlands.  She also says the 350,000 blinking “bee” lights that adorn all the trees have been there since Faneuil Hall Marketplace opened in 1976.

In the 1980’s, Marketplace Center erected a 30-40 foot tree with a skating rink surrounding it, open to the public for ice skating.  And for the past ten-plus years, the Merchants Association along with Marketplace Center has erected the Northeast’s largest holiday tree that stands more than 85-feet tall. This year’s tree is a Norwegian Spruce from Waymart, Pennsylvania and it takes a crew about two weeks to install with all the lights and decorations.

Carol also notes that many movies have been filmed during the holidays at the Marketplace because of the festive decorations and the historic setting.  The holiday tree is certainly a must-do, must-see for everyone and is a popular backdrop for family photos, selfies and even marriage proposals.

“Our holiday tree is a gift from Faneuil Hall Marketplace to the city of Boston,” said Carol.  “We have a great tradition that continues to give our guests lots of joy during the season and we invite everyone to visit throughout the holidays.”

Blink! is a great outing for families, groups of friends or if you just want to put a smile on your face. Be sure to visit Blink! at Faneuil Hall Marketplace throughout the holiday season as the shows continue daily throughout the New Year. For more information on Blink click here  Happy #FaneuilHallidays!