Online lighting of the Bergen Tree to help keep the city safe

With the usual festive events cancelled in response to Covid and the need to prevent people from gathering and the virus from spreading, the traditional carol service and ceremony to celebrate the lighting of the Bergen Tree can’t take place in its normal way. But Newcastle City Council and the Mayor of Bergen are committed to keep the traditional alive, so this year a film of the switch-on will be shown at 6pm on Thursday 26 November – to coincide with when the event should have happened.

The city of Bergen has again presented the people of Newcastle with a Christmas tree, which is now lit and standing proudly in the grounds of the Civic Centre as it has done since 1949 as a symbol of peace and friendship between the two cities. On Thursday everyone is encouraged to visit the council’s Facebook page to see the film of Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr David Cook turning on the tree’s lights.