Celebrating the Christmas season on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx: 'It's amazing!'

BELMONT, the Bronx (PIX11) -- Christmas is such a beautiful time to celebrate the communities we live in.

There was a moving tree-lighting celebration that highlighted the generosity of neighbors helping neighbors in Bronx Little Italy on Saturday.

The minute Santa arrived there were squeals of delight from the more than 1,000 children and adults waiting on line for the toy giveaway and the free Italian cookies and hot chocolate.

"It's amazing, all that is being done for the community,” said Zoraida Irizarry, who was attending the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

It was the 10th annual tree lighting in Ciccarone Park sponsored by the Belmont Business Improvement District. There was so much joy as the countdown to the tree lighting began.

"We are celebrating the Christmas season here on Arthur Avenue,” said Alyssa Tucker, the executive director of the Belmont Business Improvement District. “We really telling people to enjoy our exquisite eateries."

More than 2,000 toys were collected by the Children’s Cancer Society with help from local businesses and the FDNY. 

"We going to go to he doing what we are doing to work with local businesses to collect toys,” said Maria Villa lobos, a toy drive organizer for the Children’s Cancer Society.

A mother with a young child, Miguelina Perez, said, "Especially in these difficult times, this means a lot.” Her daughter liked the Barbie she received.

The message from the tree lighting is to come to support the restaurants and stores on Arthur Avenue this holiday season.