Menlo Park gathers for holiday tree-lighting ceremony

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Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton counts down on Friday’s second annual Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony in Fremont Park, with dozens of children and parents in attendance despite the drizzle, on Dec. 5, 2014. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton counts down on Friday’s second annual Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony in Fremont Park, with dozens of children and parents in attendance despite the drizzle, on Dec. 5, 2014. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Santa reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to a crowd of attentive children. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Santa reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to a crowd of attentive children. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Santa Claus reads “The Night Before Christmas” to attendees of Menlo Park’s second annual Christmas Tree lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Santa Claus reads “The Night Before Christmas” to attendees of Menlo Park’s second annual Christmas Tree lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Santa eagerly reaches to embrace six-month-old Morgan Chabra. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Santa eagerly reaches to embrace six-month-old Morgan Chabra. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Eight-year-old Mikayla Chabra, too shy to sit in Santa’s lap, said the only thing on her Christmas list is a pair of ballet shoes. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Eight-year-old Mikayla Chabra, too shy to sit in Santa’s lap, said the only thing on her Christmas list is a pair of ballet shoes. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton’s daughter, Kitita, plays around the park after her mother turns the switch on. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton’s daughter, Kitita, plays around the park after her mother turns the switch on. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Little hands played with the twinkling tree lights throughout the event. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Little hands played with the twinkling tree lights throughout the event. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Children at the Menlo Park Christmas-Tree lighting, play with the tree switch in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Children at the Menlo Park Christmas-Tree lighting, play with the tree switch in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
A bystander takes a cell phone photo of the Menlo Park Christmas Tree at the second annual tree-lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
A bystander takes a cell phone photo of the Menlo Park Christmas Tree at the second annual tree-lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton counts down on Friday’s second annual Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony in Fremont Park, with dozens of children and parents in attendance despite the drizzle, on Dec. 5, 2014. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton counts down on Friday’s second annual Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony in Fremont Park, with dozens of children and parents in attendance despite the drizzle, on Dec. 5, 2014. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Santa reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to a crowd of attentive children. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Santa reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to a crowd of attentive children. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Santa Claus reads “The Night Before Christmas” to attendees of Menlo Park’s second annual Christmas Tree lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Santa Claus reads “The Night Before Christmas” to attendees of Menlo Park’s second annual Christmas Tree lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Santa eagerly reaches to embrace six-month-old Morgan Chabra. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Santa eagerly reaches to embrace six-month-old Morgan Chabra. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Eight-year-old Mikayla Chabra, too shy to sit in Santa’s lap, said the only thing on her Christmas list is a pair of ballet shoes. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Eight-year-old Mikayla Chabra, too shy to sit in Santa’s lap, said the only thing on her Christmas list is a pair of ballet shoes. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton’s daughter, Kitita, plays around the park after her mother turns the switch on. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton’s daughter, Kitita, plays around the park after her mother turns the switch on. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Little hands played with the twinkling tree lights throughout the event. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Little hands played with the twinkling tree lights throughout the event. (Phoebe Barghouty/Peninsula Press)
Children at the Menlo Park Christmas-Tree lighting, play with the tree switch in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Children at the Menlo Park Christmas-Tree lighting, play with the tree switch in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
A bystander takes a cell phone photo of the Menlo Park Christmas Tree at the second annual tree-lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
A bystander takes a cell phone photo of the Menlo Park Christmas Tree at the second annual tree-lighting in Fremont Park. (Sabrina Elfarra/Peninsula Press)
Menlo Park residents gathered Dec. 5 in Fremont Park for the town’s tree-lighting ceremony.

Menlo Park residents gathered Friday in Fremont Park for the town’s tree-lighting ceremony.

Even Santa paid a visit and read the children “The Night Before Christmas.” The park’s tree this year featured a 50,400-light display.

“I’m just so excited that everyone could come up and celebrate with us today. It’s so exciting,” said Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton. The mayor lit up the tree while children and parents counted down.

This is the second year the town has hosted a tree-lighting ceremony.

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