SCRANTON, Pa. — With a flip of the switch, the holiday season officially began.
480 light bulbs on the WEJL radio tower will shine high over the city of Scranton for the holiday season.
At nearly 400 feet high, it's called the region's tallest Christmas tree.
Penn Avenue was packed for the annual block party. Even Santa himself was on hand.
"What are you asking for for Christmas this year? Lots of jerseys. What kind of jerseys? Eagles ones," said Quinn Kelly, Jefferson Township.
For the kids, the tower lighting was definitely the highlight of Thanksgiving Eve, but for the adults, the fireworks were just the beginning of the night.
"It's probably hands down the busiest night of the year for the restaurant and bar business," said Kelley Sweeney, general manager of Voodoo Brewing in Scranton.
This was the first Thanksgiving Eve at Voodoo Brewing Company in south Scranton.
The place has been open for less than a year, but dozens found it the perfect spot to spend the big night out.
Patrick Holmes is a Scranton native now living in the Philadelphia suburbs. He's home for the holiday.
"It's a great tradition. Everybody comes here, and we get to see the kids and the family, and it's great to be here," said Patrick Holmes, Royersford.
"I think Scranton really needed a place like this. Less of a dining room and more of a gathering space," said Kyle Gilboy, chef at Voodoo Brewing.
The radio tower was lit for the first time in 1960, and it has been part of the Scranton skyline every year since then except one; in 1973, the tower remained dark after President Nixon asked all Americans to conserve energy.
The tower will shine brightly every night through the holiday season.