Oh Tannenbaum
Towering over Hallmark's Crown Center Square, the mayor's 100-foot Christmas tree is a sight to behold. Decked with 7,200 white lights, it's one of the nation's largest. Lit the day after the plaza, the tree becomes the centerpiece of a small illuminated forest and a cluster of larger-than-life holiday decorations.

Across the square, ice-skaters glide, spin, and occasionally skid through the Ice Terrace, the city's only outdoor public rink. An evening skate is an annual tradition that locals say is a can't-miss experience. The arena is sheltered by a giant canopy that doesn't block the fresh air or the views of the square, and, despite the ice beneath your feet, it's too much fun to mind the cold.