PHOTOS: Boston Common Christmas Tree Lighting 2013

Mayor Menino attended his last Boston Common tree lighting as the city’s mayor with his grandchildren and Santa by his side. (Photo by Margaret Burdge)

Beneath a shimmering sky thanks to a comforting layer of wintry fog, for the 72nd time, Boston welcomed the holidays on the Boston Common last night, where a Christmas tree gifted by Nova Scotia was lit in red, green, and blue.

Festivities began with an ice skating show at the Frog Pond and culminated just before 8 p.m., when the 47-foot white spruce donated by Mary Lou Milligan of Lunenberg County, Nova Scotia, was lit.

With a perfectly nippy winter chill and more holiday spirit than one could hope for, Bostonians crowded the lawn to watch countless performances from Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the block, the Boston Ballet, and much more, including a pyrotechnic show and the Christmas tree lighting by Mayor Tom Menino (his last Boston Common Tree Lighting as mayor).

Check out some highlights from the show:

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Ashanti Phillip, of the Blue Hill chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, performed her rendition of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” to start off the night. The club sent a school bus full of children to the event to watch Phillip sing.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Members of the Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, enacted a scene from the play, adapted from the holiday classic. 

Photo by Margaret Burdge

It’s no wonder that Berklee grad Christina “Isabelle” Pasqualone made it through the top 40 on American Idol as she wowed the crowd last night with “This Christmas” and “Grown Up Christmas List.”

Photo by Margaret Burdge

“We consider the people of Boston friends,” said Andrew Younger, a minister for the Nova Scotia government, at last night’s tree lighting. Along with members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Younger attended the ceremony to dedicate the tree to survivors and families affected by the marathon bombings. The bond between the groups extends back to the Halifax explosion, when Boston was the first to send help.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Who says the holidays aren’t a time to be blue? The Blue Man Group got the crowd energized at the lighting. 

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Through a tarp covering over the stage, the group was ready for their explosive performance, bringing a world of color to the Common.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

The crowd went wild for Joey McIntyre, member of New Kids on the Block, in a theatrical performance of “Jingle Bells.” Members of the Boston Children’s Theatre performed a skit along with McIntyre to the classic Christmas carol.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

A giant bear shifting from standing effortlessly on point to taking great leaps across the stage was the centerpiece of the Boston Ballet’s excerpt from the first Act of their Nutcracker. After a complete redesign of the production last year, the company received rave reviews. McIntyre returned again later in the night for a performance of “O, Holy Night.”

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Erika Van Pelt, a top 10 American Idol contestant, performed twice during the night, beginning with “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” and returning with a sultry “Santa Baby.”

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Melanie Davidson, of Warwick, Rhode Island, and Cara DiBenedetto from East Boston stood front and center with signs declaring their love for Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block. “We’ve been fans of him for 25 years,” said DiBenedetto. The two attended the 2013 Boston Marathon to watch McIntyre run, leaving just after he finished the race. The bombing happened not long after. Davidson explained that they have since felt a special connection to McIntyre, as his finish time prompted them to leave the area before the blast.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Jim Corsi, a Red Sox pitcher from 1997 to 1999, raised the World Series Trophy high and proud to the roaring crowd. “You guys were probably expecting Jacoby, but he’s a little tied up right now,” joked Corsi.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Mattapan’s Morning Star Baptist Church certainly brought joy to the Common with their spirited rendition of “Joy to the World.”

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Arguably the best dancers of their age in Boston, the Celtics’ official Junior Dance Team, “LilPhunk,” showed their moves during their performance last night.

Photo by Margaret Burdge

Drumming, bagpipes, violin, beatboxing, stepdancing… Alongside a beatboxed version of “Dashing Through the Snow,” Nova Scotia’s SQUID took percussion drumming to a new level.

Photos by Margaret Burdge

Boston Police officer Stephen McNulty opened the night with a performance of the national anthem, and finished off the ceremony beside Santa Claus.

Photos by Margaret Burdge

Attending his last Boston Common tree lighting after 20 years as mayor, Tom Menino was welcomed by a thankful crowd. 

Photo by Margaret Burdge

After a burst of fireworks, a shower of confetti fell over the crowd to usher in the holiday season with a bright and beautiful tree.

Photo by Margaret Burdge