47th annual tree lighting kicks off in Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The 2024 New York State Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival kicked off Sunday night with hundreds of family and friends spreading holiday cheer at the Empire State Plaza. This year marks the 47th annual year it was held.

“If I can’t be home in Texas, this is where I want to be," said Heath Reckley, an attendee of the event.

For some, like Reckley and his family, this night has become a holiday tradition.

"This is a family tradition of mine, my brother started playing tuba Christmas in Texas in 1993 I believe, so I’ve been going for a few years now," said Reckley. “It reminds me of home a little bit it's just the sound of all the tubas is really really neat it's something you don't hear all the time and it's just this is Christmas to me."

Kristen Hanifin, associate commissioner of special events and visitor services at Empire State Plaza Office of General Services, said this has become a staple in the capital region.

 “It's become a tradition I think for a lot of families they come down just to kick off the holidays," said Hanifin. "It becomes something that you all come together and you look forward to together."

Plus, this weekend is also the first weekend the Empire State Plaza ice rink is open for the season. Plenty of skaters took the ice Sunday, from families to figure skaters. There was also a Santa Claus, a tuba performance, an acapella performance, fireworks, and of course, the tree lighting.

Some families said they came out specifically for the tuba performance.

“My husband is playing along with is cousin, they just finally retired he can just come out and enjoy himself, he’s having a ball," said Mary. “I never thought I would see my husband in a shirt with flashing lights on it” - Mary Amann, a Mechanicville resident.

Many things were flashing tonight, from shirts, to instruments, and even the sky. Fireworks lit up the sky just after the tree lighting began. 10-year-old attendee Leonard Colomb said Christmas is his favorite holiday, and the fireworks were his favorite part of the day.

But his all time favorite thing, is waking up on Christmas morning.

“Just like waking up on Christmas with the anticipation that Santa Claus left you presents and you come downstairs and you get everything that you wanted," said Colomb.  

All that excitement, making for just the right start to this holiday season.

“Sometimes you get really caught up in the 'hecticness' of what goes around the holiday season as far as shopping, as far as wrapping presents, baking, cooking, cleaning the house, getting it ready," said David Kilpatrick, a Glenville resident. "This is just a great place to come out and get away from all that and actually enjoy the stuff that comes around the holidays without having to have all the stress around it."

Plus, NEWS10's morning team with Christina Arangio, Ryan Peterson, Stephanie Rivas, and Matt Mackie emceed the event tonight, spreading holiday cheer to everyone.

Hanifan said the ice rink will have new hours this year, opening earlier than before. This year it will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. For more information on the ice rink, visit their website.