ROANOKE, Va. – Holiday lights are now hung in the Star City as Roanoke prepares for its annual Dickens of a Christmas celebration.
Downtown Roanoke Inc. and city workers decorated the official Christmas tree Wednesday, which is now up by the Market building.
Hanging on the tree are more than 300 ornaments handmade by children at the Taubman Museum of Art.
Jaime Clark, Downtown Roanoke Inc. marketing and communications specialist, says in addition to the annual Dickens of a Christmas Celebrations, there are new festivities this year.
"It's fantastic,” Clark said. “We are really excited about the Dickens of a Carnival which is on the second night. It's going to be a great event."
In addition to trimming the tree, city maintenance workers finished hanging lights throughout the city for the month-long festival.
The public can watch the iconic tree lighting ceremony in person or on WSLS 10 News 10 December 1 starting at 5 p.m.
10 News will flip the switch illuminating the Roanoke tree at 6:20 p.m.
The town of Blacksburg will also hold its tree lighting live starting at 5:45 p.m.
For more information and a full schedule of events click here.