2016 Holiday Lights by Sunnyside Shines (Photo via Facebook)
Nov. 14, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
A ceremony to ring in the holiday lights around Greenpoint Avenue and Queens Boulevard will take place next week in an event with musical performances and a visit from Santa.
The Sunnyside Shines Holiday Lighting Ceremony is set for Nov. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., just under the Sunnyside Arch on 46th Street and Queens Boulevard.
The free event will simultaneously light the holiday-themed fixtures along Greenpoint Avenue and Queens Boulevard, set within the bounds of the Sunnyside Business Improvement District. On Greenpoint Avenue, the lights will go through to the midway point between 42nd and 43rd Streets, and on Queens Boulevard, the lights will cover the length from 38th Street to 50th Street.
Under the Sunnyside Arch, a giant snowflake will be lit with the help of elected officials and community residents, who will also see a host of musical acts during the two-hour festivity, including the Sunnyside Youth Drum Corps, the Fabulous Fezziwig quarter of carolers, and the McManus Irish Dancers. Free hot chocolate and candy canes will be available through the event, along with an appearance from Santa Claus.
The arch will not be lit as part of the ceremony, as Sunnyside Shines is still working to find an appropriate contractor to repair the lights, an initiative that was announced in October.
A coupon book called the Shop Local Holiday Passport will also debut that day, with discounts listed for over 40 participating businesses in the area.
The Sunnyside Shines BID has held holiday lighting ceremonies for the lights along the two main stretches since 2009. The light fixtures are the same from the year prior, with snowflake designs, light patterns, and signs saying “Welcome to Sunnyside”. The fixtures are usually installed two weeks before the ceremony, and stay up through the new year, according to Jaime-Faye Bean, executive director of the BID.
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9 Comments
Put some lights don’t turn on ??
A “giant snowflake” that sounds about right.
I guess it’s a good day to go to astoria. Thanks for telling me
You pass through the welcome to Sunnyside lights on Greenpoint ave. between 42nd and 43rd to see homeless Mexican drunks sleeping on the benches and urinating in the street. Keep up the good work JVB and be proud of yourself.
El Loco you are in no condition to fight anyone. You couldn’t box your way out of a paper bag. How soon you forgot how you got your ass kicked in the Asian Underground fight club that Lily sponsored you in circa 1980. You disgraced the 48 St/47Av Metropolitan Houses Dojo. Lily backhanded your head and spit a glass of Jameson’s in your face in Newark Airport when you returned from the last leg of your trip in Taiwan. You haven’t been seen on the Boulevard since.
I will be there to meet and greet all my fans and fight anyone who has an issue with me. I hear Al’s mother has been looking for me.
Will JVB be there with his “Blue T-Shirt sidekick” ? The blue t-shirt dude is always loitering outside of Alpha Donuts on QB.
This should be made a pink hat and blue t-shirt event.
Joe Crowley wants to wish you Happy Thanksgiving, and thinks you should focus on one holiday at a time.