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Join The Nets, Santa and Robots at Downtown Brooklyn-Area Tree Lightings

By Janet Upadhye | November 28, 2014 3:22pm | Updated on December 1, 2014 8:50am
 This tree lighting took place in DUMBO in 2009.
This tree lighting took place in DUMBO in 2009.
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DUMBONYC

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Ring in the holidays with tree lighting ceremonies in the Downtown Brooklyn area — complete with special guests like Brooklyn Nets player Brook Lopez and Santa Claus and his "Robotic Helper" made by the NYU Mechatronics Lab plus enjoy live music.

This year, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will host the 25th annual tree lighting ceremony in MetroTech Commons with performances by the American Ballet Theatre and the Brooklyn Tech choir along with a robot named CAESAR created by NYU students.

The bot — whose name stands for "cellularly accessible expressive semi-autonomous robot" — will be decked out in holiday gear for his debut appearance at the ceremony.

Other celebrations include hot chocolate in Fort Greene Park and music from Brooklyn-based steel drum band Jah Pan in DUMBO's Pearl Street Triangle.

DNAinfo New York rounded up all the details about tree lighting ceremonies in Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene and DUMBO.

MetroTech Commons, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.

Brooklyn Nets player Lopez will join Santa Claus and his Robotic Helper from the NYU Mechatronics Lab at the "25th Annual MetroTech Tree Lighting Ceremony." The event takes place in the commons where the American Ballet Theatre JKO School will perform "The Nutcracker," the Brooklyn Tech High School Choir will sing carols and Luciano’s will serve hot chocolate and refreshments.

Fort Greene Park, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.

The Fort Greene Park Conservancy along with Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership are hosting a "Community Tree Lighting" at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park in Fort Greene Park. The ceremony will include live music, hot chocolate and Santa Claus — who will be on hand to take photos with children. The lights will go on at 4:30 p.m. sharp.

Pearl Street Triangle, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.

The DUMBO Improvement District is set to sponsor the "9th Annual DUMBO Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony" in the Pearl Street Triangle. The event will have hot cocoa donated by chocolatier Jacques Torres, Santa Claus and Calypso music from Brooklyn-based steel drum band Jah Pan. City Councilman Steve Levin will lead the countdown to illuminate the tree.