New Orillia Christmas tree shines bright

After Orillia’s underwhelming Christmas tree-lighting ceremony last year became a viral sensation, the City lit a new, bigger, brighter and healthier tree Friday evening.

Last year’s lackluster tree-lighting surfaced on various online platforms to the point of being mocked by American talk show host Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

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The City responded by retiring the infamous ‘Fred,’ the tree that had served Orillia’s annual tree-lighting for the past four decades.

Through supplied video captured by an attendee of Friday evening’s tree-lighting, ‘Fred’s’ replacement tree appears poised to see brighter days this holiday season. Mayor Don McIsaac and Santa Claus led the countdown to it being fully illuminated with plenty of bright blue flashing lights.

An official from the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce told CTV News that the new tree is 25 feet tall and is decorated with around a thousand lights. A City councillor confirmed that $10,000 was raised by local and American donors to replace ‘Fred.’

This year, it has been the Collingwood tree's turn to be the subject of online chatter for its grid-like pattern that was revealed last weekend.

Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) staff say they hope their future efforts will keep the focus on the holiday cheer.

With files from CTV's Kim Phillips.