Downtown St. Paul To Kick Off Holiday Season

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- It should start looking a lot like Christmas Saturday in downtown St. Paul.

St. Paul kicks off the holiday season with the grand opening of Wells Fargo WinterSkate at 4:30 p.m., followed by the official tree lighting of Rice Park at 5 p.m.

WinterSkate is downtown St. Paul's free, outdoor ice rink. Rice Park's sixth annual holiday tree stands 70 feet tall and is lit with 15,000 lights.

After the switch is flipped, a fireworks display will turn on the Christmas tree, which will be on display and lit until Jan. 1. Cast members from the Ordway's production of "Cinderella" will perform holiday music during the tree lighting ceremony.

Children also will have a chance to take their pictures with Santa in front of the tree.

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