The City of Coral Gables kick- starts the holidays with the 2012 Coral Gables Holiday Spectacular, filled with live performances, food, games and celebration.

“This is a signature even organized by the City of Coral Gables to officially begin the holiday season. It is a holiday tradition, a festivity for family, neighbors and friends to come together to enjoy the lighting of the tree,” said Maria Rosa Higgins Fallon, Coral Gables public affairs manager.

Mayor Jim Cason and members of the City Commission will join the event to light up the Christmas tree at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 in front of City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way.

“A crowd of 10,000 people is expected to attend,” Higgins Fallon said.

The event, which will take place from 5 to 10 p.m., will feature performances by Actors’ Playhouse Children Theater, Maria Verdeja School of the Arts, and The Jeff Kipperman Quartet from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

Merrick Park, across the street from City Hall, will be transformed into a winter wonderland. It will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Dec. 25. Santa will be in the park to take pictures with kids on from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 23.