The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park (FOCCP) will celebrate a Boston holiday tradition with the twelfth annual lighting of the park’s signature trellises on Monday, November 24, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Local businesses and neighbors support the efforts of FOCCP, the all-volunteer neighborhood organization, to raise the funds needed to illuminate the trellis and 14 trees annually. Mayor Martin J. Walsh will preside over the trellis lighting ceremony, along with Boston Parks Commissioner Chris Cook.
“The Friends of Christopher Columbus is proud to fund the more than $25,000 necessary to light up the trellis and trees for the season,” says FOCCP President Joanne Hayes-Rines. “Every year it is thrilling to watch the park be transformed into a winter wonderland, and we’re delighted that Mayor Walsh will throw the switch this year.”
Entertainment will be provided by the North End Music and Performing Arts Center while Santa Claus and Miss Massachusetts, Lauren Kuhn, welcome attendees. The Marriott Long Wharf Hotel, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Starbucks and Magic 106.7 will provide refreshments and holiday treats.
The major corporate sponsors for this year’s trellis and tree lighting are Boston PushCart, The Chiofaro Company, CL Waterfront Properties, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Marriott Long Wharf Boston, NorthEndBoston.com, Sunstone Hotel Investors and Tia’s Restaurant. The Friends would also like to recognize the support of Sanibel Electric in this year’s trellis lighting. “With an ambitious docket of projects before us, we are more dependent than ever on the generosity of our members, both private and corporate, in Boston and outside the city, who help us fund these efforts,” says Hayes-Rines. “We have been one of the most successful Friends groups to support a city park, and we truly appreciate everyone’s help and continued donations to keep pulling all this off.”
The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park (FOCCP) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization comprised of North End and Waterfront neighbors whose purpose is to further the restoration, protection, preservation, care, enhancement, improvement, and maintenance of the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park. The FOCCP works closely with the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department to keep the park clean and well maintained, and with other city and state organizations to improve the park to enrich the lives of both residents and visitors to Boston.
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The current officers FOCCP are Joanne Hayes-Rines (President), Ann Babbitt (Vice President), Audrey Tortolani (Treasurer) and Patricia Thiboutot (Clerk). Board members are Joe Bono, Ford Cavalleri, Meghan Denenberg, Beverly Knight, Robyn Reed, Patricia Sabbey and Christina Sperry.
