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PHOTOS: Bayside welcomes Santa and the holiday spirit with a parade and a tree lighting

City Councilman Paul Vallone and students from P.S. 31 in Bayside welcomed Santa Claus to the Bayside Children's Parade and Tree Lighting on Dec. 3.
Photos by Dean Moses

Overcast weather couldn’t dampen the seasonal spirit shared by spectators and participants alike during the third annual Bayside children’s parade and tree lighting on Sunday.

Santa Claus was the guest of honor for the march along Bell Boulevard that began on 36th Avenue. School groups, the NYPD Marching Band, local elected officials and others walked southbound on the boulevard to the Bayside Long Island Rail Road station on 41st Avenue.

There, they were greeted by hundreds of spectators who came to see a big evergreen near the station illuminated in colorful light. Musical acts also took to the stage set up nearby for seasonal performances.

While a little rain fell during the parade, the organizers found a way to let it snow just in time for the tree lighting with a little help from a snow machine.

Councilman Paul Vallone and the Bayside Village Business Improvement District were the event’s key sponsors. Check out some of the sights below.