Christmas kickoff: Lighting of city's tree includes cookies, cocoa and even St. Nick!

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ROCHESTER - The city's Christmas season will officially kick off on Friday with a tree lighting ceremony that will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Central Square in downtown Rochester.
The event, presented by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and underwritten by First Seacoast Bank, will include the ceremony and lighting of Rochester's tree for the first time.
A program of family activities will also take place as part of the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony, sponsored by Profile Bank.
After a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan there will be dance performances and caroling conducted by Studio 109 Dance, Voice & Drama.
There will also be complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, provided by Potter's House Bakery and Café and Meredith Village Savings Bank and a very special visit from Santa Claus.
For more information about the Holiday Tree Lighting or for information and entry forms for Rochester's "A Rock & Roll Christmas" Holiday Parade on Sunday please contact the Chamber office at 603-332-5080 or visit www.rochesternh.org/treelighting or www.rochesternh.org/parade
Entries for the parade will be accepted till the end of the day today.

Pictured in the photo: Holiday Events Committee Chair Norman Sanborn; Tatjana Simon, Northeast Credit Union; Candace Rowell, Service Credit Union; Sharla Rollins, First Seacoast Bank; Santa; Carrie Alex, Alex & Associates at Keller Williams; Kelley Patterson, Alex & Associates at Keller Williams; and Holiday Event Committee Member Mandy Barstow. (Courtesy photo)