Workers with the city and Millwood Landscaping level this year's Christmas tree in Penn Square in Lancaster on Wednesday morning.
A tree sprouted in Penn Square on Wednesday, its branches shivering in the rain as workers wrestled the 35-foot-tall evergreen into place.
The tree was delivered late Wednesday morning, said Valerie Wagner, special events manager for Lancaster city, and a city crew spent the rest of the day setting it up, installing lights and hanging decorations.
Setting up Lancaster's Christmas tree
On Friday, the Norway spruce from Millwood Landscaping in Willow Street will officially become the city's Christmas tree when the lights are turned on for the first time.
Wagner said the Wesley Handbell Choir from First United Methodist Church will kick off the event at 6:30 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive at 7 — but Wagner said the means of his arrival, having something to do with the roof of the Lancaster County Convention Center, are a closely guarded secret.
Santa's visit will hearken back to his old tradition of coming into the city via the roof of the former Watt & Shand — sometimes arriving by fire truck, sometimes by helicopter.
"We're going to resurrect that tradition, but we're not telling anyone the details," Wagner said. "It's going to be a surprise."
Santa will help Mayor Rick Gray light the tree shortly before Tuba Christmas begins at 7:30. Then, Santa will head up the block to his gingerbread house in Binns Park.
"He'll visit with children — or adults — and take photos. He'll be there until the line is gone," Wagner said.
Meanwhile, there will be carriage rides through the downtown and live music at Binns Park, and some downtown stores will stay open late to accommodate holiday shoppers. Central Market will stay open until 8 p.m., Wagner said.
Santa will return to the house in Binns Park from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays until Christmas.
The annual downtown window-decorating contest also begins Friday, and for the first time the public will get a vote on the best display.
Wagner said ballots are available at each of 33 participating businesses and at lancastercityevents.com. Voting concludes Dec. 13.