Gainesville's annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony has survived the struggling economy and the city's shrinking budget.
The event, which costs less than $1,000, has been held for more than 20 years and will be Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Thomas Center for the Arts.
The cost was low because the decorations were donated, the facility is free and most of the workers are volunteers, said David Ballard, the city events coordinator.
Most of the money will go toward refreshments and paying entertainers, Ballard said.
The event will include holiday carolers, carriage rides and refreshments, in addition to the tree lighting and appearances by Ebenezer Scrooge, Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and, for the first time, Santa Claus.
The Gypsy Guerilla Band will perform holiday music and visitors will be invited to take carriage tours around the nearby Duck Pond Neighborhood, which has an annual luminary display.
The holiday tree lighting will be the first of the city's holiday events, he said.
The city will also sponsor a New Year's Eve celebration, which was cut last year because of budget constraints.
The celebration, which previously was on a trailer stage, will be on the plaza to cut costs. In the past, the plaza was used to house the city ice rink, which was cut last year.
