It’s a beloved holiday tradition!
Merrymakers packed Fort Greene Park on Sunday to celebrate the season with a neighborhood tree lighting in the green space — a ceremony so festive that Santa Claus took some time out of his busy schedule to join the locals for the occasion, according to a mom, who said her tot enjoyed the jolly old elf’s appearance far more than she expected.
“I thought my son was going to be scared because it was his first time, but he was good,” said Fort Greener Latoya Ramjit.
Ramjit, her husband, and their three kids and niece joined dozens of residents at the fifth-annual tree lighting at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Street — where city park honchos plan to kick off the creation of a new, controversial grand entrance to Fort Greene Park next year.
Revelers snacked on cookies as youngsters took their turns sitting on Santa’s lap, according to the mom, who said the event’s ample holiday cheer keeps her family coming back year after year.
“We love it, we go every year,” Ramjit said.
And this year’s bash drew so many spirited locals that organizers with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy — which oversees the meadow in conjunction with the city — and business-boosting group the Myrtle Avenue Partnership poured every last drop of the free hot cocoa they had on offer, according to Ramjit.
“The only thing the kids were bummed about was that they ran out of hot chocolate,” the mom said.
