Ellie Hawkins Journal Staff
Families and community members in attendance and the restaurants were packed – suddenly there were awe’s of sadness as the Marketplace went dark, the lights had been turned off at the Blink! Lights and Sounds Extravaganza began at Faneuil Hall. After the lights had been off for a few seconds they turned back on and continued to display different light patterns, everyone cheered with joy and excitement.
Blink! Lights and Sounds Extravaganza is a 6-week state-of-the-art light and sound show that has transformed the marketplace. This display uses over 350,000 LED lights that light up the skyline. The LED lights will permit the city to use only 30% of the power that was used in the previous years.
“Everything is over dramatic, which makes me feel like I am in Disney World. This event really gets me in the holiday spirit,” said Tina Frosinos, a freshman at Suffolk University. “It is good that they did this before Thanksgiving for us college students in Boston to see and get us into the spirit.”
The tree lighting started at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 17, 2012 and will run until December 31. The light shows run every half an hour from 4:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The shows consist of Christmas music and programed light shows playing throughout the evening.
On the first Saturday of the event, at 9:15 a.m., the marketplace hosted different kick-off events to start off Blink!, Pilates Bootcamp, Story hour with the Grinch, live music, performances and many other activities.
“I came out here with friends and my sister in law from Blacksburg, Virginia. We just came for the football game, but we saw the lights and stopped by to see the show,” said Linda Bland, while she sat with her friends on a bench. “This event kicks-off our holiday season and makes us want to go home and decorate our houses to look like this place. It also encouraged us to do some holiday shopping.”
The main display is an 85-foot Christmas tree which has two rows of trees leading to it. The rows of trees are wrapped with white lights and have blue lights that twinkle in the branches. All the lights have are timed, programed, choreographed displays that go along with the music that is playing.
There is also a smaller Christmas tree, located by Merchants Row, wreaths and snowflake projections that decorate the Marketplace. There are a total of four different light shows in complex.
This event is entertaining for all ages, a free holiday event and is a great way to stroll with friends or family to start off your holiday season. Everyone at the event seemed unable to stop smiling and laughing with each other, everyone seemed to be in the holiday spirit.
