The Frog Pond Spectacular marked the beginning of the Christmas season and filled the Boston Common with holiday cheer on Thursday. Thousands gathered to take part in the festivities that included sampling booths, games, singing, skating, theatre, and the annual lighting of the Christmas tree.

This event is a must-see for anyone in the Boston area, and would probably even put Ebenezer Scrooge in the Christmas Spirit. The only thing it lacked was snow.

The Skating Club of Boston kicked off the night with an hour-long skating exhibition featured skaters from around the world, as well as its own members. Backlit by a beautiful Boston Skyline, skaters glided across the ice performing a plethora of synchronized skating acts and theatre-on-ice productions.

With each holiday-themed performance the anxious bustle of downtown Boston melted away. The skaters showcased their hard work and dedication during elegant routines that they made look easy.

Once the skating concluded, crowds were ushered to a stage where WCVB TV’s Anthony Everett and JC Monahan hosted a two-hour Christmas program. The talented Jim Melody was the opening act, performing “Christmas in Boston.”

This genuinely local Christmas song`s lyrics included “Wise men in Cambridge and angels at Mass General” and had the audience captivated immediately. Many spectators looked like they had just left work were singing and dancing along with the acts in no time. During the span of the program the attitude of the Boston Commons was, in fact, Holly and Jolly.

The Urban Nutcracker took the stage next to perform scenes from their upcoming play. Their version of the play involves a twist with spontaneous, contemporary hip-hop dancing. After seeing just a sneak peak it was clear that their upcoming rendition of the Nutcracker will be unlikely most traditional Christmas plays.

Representatives then followed them from the North Shore Music theatre who acted out scenes from their current production of A Christmas Carol. The performances continued, leading up to the Christmas tree lighting, with acts from Michelle Brooks Thompson from the Voice, The Patriots drumline, Berklee College’s a capella group Pitch Slapped, Santa Claus himself, and many others.

When all of the acts concluded, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was joined by Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil to light the impressive 72-year-old, 48-foot Nova Scotian white spruce that was donated by Bill MacEachern.

Nova Scotia donates a tree every year to thank Boston for their help in 1917, when an explosion in Halifax leveled the town and Boston came to their aid.

The first few rows in front the stage were completely occupied by rowdy Nova Scotians that were waving flags in anticipation of the tree lighting. Camaraderie was in the air as Canadians and Americans alike celebrated the lighting of the magnificent tree.

The countdown started and everyone stared at the dark tree waiting to be blinded by dazzling holiday light. When the tree was finally illuminated a fireworks display began as well.

The crowd was treated to a spectacular show that lit up the commons like the Fourth of July. As the show concluded, a round of applause erupted that rivaled the sound of the previous Technicolor explosions. Everybody was in good spirits as they left the Commons that night, as if momentarily forgetting about the stresses of their lives.

This is an event that every Bostonian should attend. It is truly a sight to behold.