Worcester Square celebrates 58th annual Christmas Tree Lighting

The Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association (WSANA) held its 58th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting this year with a slightly different format, but the usual amount of holiday cheer and fun. According to WSANA president George Stergios, between 300 and 400 people attended the gathering, "with more kids than we've ever seen before."

Guests included state senator Nick Collins (D-1st Suffolk) , state representative Dr. Jon Santiago (D-9th Suffolk), District 3 city councilor Frank Baker, and District 2 city councilor Ed Flynn. The festivities began at 4:00 PM and ended at 5:30, when the Blackstone Square Tree Lighting began.

Penny Layne and the Wonder Boys entertained with jazz-pop renditions of holiday classics throughout the event, which included the lighting of the tree, a visit from Santa Claus, who arrived on a fire truck, greeting neighbors and giving presents to children, and wintry beverages and sweets from Café Quattro and Blunch.

This year, WSANA decided to forego its benefit raffle, which customarily raises funds for the Music in the Square summer concerts and a sizable donation to a local non-profit organization, with Stergios explaining via e-mail that WSANA didn't feel comfortable asking pandemic-stressed local businesses for gift certificates and other donations, but without those items, there would be no prizes for the raffle.

South End historian and South End News founding editor Alison Barnet sold and signed copies of her book, "Once Upon a Neighborhood: A Timeline and Anecdotal History of the South End of Boston". Collins, whose district was redistricted to include a portion of the South End, purchased a copy and remarked, "I'm going to learn all about the South End over the holidays."