Lake Oswego is celebrating its 50th annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony this year.

While places like the Rockefeller Center have longer traditions (almost 80 years) and bigger crowds, they are missing three key ingredients that make Lake Oswego’s ceremony my favorite.

1. Small town charm. Tens of thousands crowd next to each other to catch a glimpse of the Rockefeller tree and millions watch it broadcast on television. There’s bling and celebrities and razzamatazz. If you’re looking for more of a homegrown holiday, a harkening back to simpler times, then take your place among the crowd of hundreds at Lake Oswego’s ceremony.

2. Two trees. Okay, the Rockefeller Center may have a 75-85 foot tree bedecked in 30,000 to 45,000 LED bulbs, but Lake Oswego lights up two trees! One at Bigelow Plaza on the corner of 5th and A Avenue featuring giant snowflake lights and the other at Millennium Plaza Park at First and Evergreen. Take that New York!

3. A Parade. What sounds like more fun? Being crammed up against a bunch of strangers in the freezing cold while you wait for the lights to go on and then disperse? Or mingling with neighbors and friends as you stroll down main street going from one tree lighting ceremony to another? If you picked the latter, see you in Lake Oswego.

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