San Francisco mayor kicks off holiday season with 90th official tree lighting

San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Wednesday evening kicked off the city's 2019 holiday season by lighting up a 130-year-old tree at a ceremony attended by officials as well as hundreds of local families and kids.

To the cheers of a joyful crowd, Breed, who was surrounded by a group of kids, turned on the switch to light the century-plus-old Monterey Cypress tree that sported more than 550 colorful dancing lights illuminating the city's official holiday tree.

The 90th annual Holiday Tree Lighting is a celebration of local residents featuring free activities, cookies, food trucks, visit with Santa and live music and entertainment from local bands and art groups to greet this year's upcoming holiday season including Christmas.

"For generations, San Francisco families have gathered together under the McLaren Lodge tree in celebration of the winter holidays," Breed said of the tree lighting event held at Golden Gate Park in the west of the city.

"This 90-year tradition, along with our year-round recreation programming and wonderful parks, is part of what makes raising children in San Francisco so special," she added.

The tree in the park was planted by John McLaren, who was known as "Uncle John," the grandfather of San Francisco's park system.

The tree lighting event was hosted by San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.