WXYZ DETROIT — This year has been full of unexpected challenges. Next week Channel 7 is proud to present a positive tradition you can count on! It’s time to officially kick off the holiday season at Campus Martius Park in Detroit. However, with the Coronavirus pandemic still a powerful health challenge for our community, it is safer to stay home and celebrate than to gather in large groups. So there will be no official public tree lighting in 2020.
Related: WATCH: Detroit tree lighting special 'Light Up the Season' on WXYZ-TV Friday, Nov. 20
But that won’t put a damper on our spirit, festivities or creativity. Joined by the Downtown Detroit Partnership, we have re-invented our “Light up the Season” special. It will take place next Friday evening, November 20th, at 7:30, on Channel 7, wxyz.com, Roku and all of your favorite streaming devices.
We invite you to grab something to eat and drink, sit back with your family and enjoy watching 19-thousand lights turn on to brighten this year’s spectacular 60-foot, Michigan grown Norway Spruce. Downtown Detroit will shine bigger and better than ever before. Santa will join us from the North Pole for the big countdown! And true to our rich Motown music heritage, the great Smokey Robinson will perform a holiday classic for his original hometown. Olympic skater Karen Chen will display her talent and grace on the Campus Martius Park rink.
Given all that we have encountered this year, our annual holiday tradition will take on a special significance for families across metro Detroit.
WXYZ is proud to be the official broadcast partner. Please join us as we “Light up the Season” for all to see and enjoy!
I’m Mike Murri, V.P. & General Manager
Broadcast: November 13 - 15, 2020
