The City of Peterborough will be celebrating the holiday season with a community tree-lighting ceremony at Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough late Friday afternoon (December 15).
With the help of Treescape Certified Arborists, a 23-year-old spruce tree from Ennismore was cut down and installed in the public square on Charlotte Street near Aylmer on November 30.
On Friday, the Peterborough Singers choir will perform seasonal songs before Mayor Jeff Leal flips the switch at 5:30 p.m. to turn on the lights adorning the 35-foot tall tree.
“Quaker Foods City Square brought a tremendous amount of energy to the downtown last winter with thousands of people enjoying the new outdoor skating rink,” Mayor Leal says in a media release. “The tree will add to the festive spirit and vibrancy. I look forward to celebrating the season with the community at the upcoming tree-lighting event.”
The outdoor skating rink may also be open on Friday for skating for the first time this season, but don’t count on it. According to the city, recent warm temperatures and rain have presented a challenge for icemaking at the outdoor rink. Currently, the weather forecast is calling a high temperature of 8°C on Friday.
When the outdoor skating rink does open, skate rentals will be offered for the first time. The city is sponsoring Runner’s Life at 174 Charlotte Street to offer an inventory of rental skates as well as helmets and skate-sharpening services.
