Roswell Park campus to glow with hope Friday, Dec. 6

Young cancer survivor will light Tree of Hope; nightly light show continues through Jan. 2, 2014

Roswell Park Cancer Institute's annual Tree of Hope lighting ceremony will be held Friday, Dec. 6, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Kaminski Park and Gardens on the RPCI campus. This free, family-friendly event, to be held in honor of all who are touched by cancer, will feature holiday festivities such as ice sculpting, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the annual gingerbread house raffle.

Guests can expect all the joys of the holiday season at this outdoor event, which is co-sponsored by WIVB News Channel 4 and West Herr Automotive. The festivities will culminate with the lighting of the Tree of Hope by a cancer survivor from Carly's Club for Kids & Cancer Research in WNY. 

Activities and attractions to be featured at this year's Tree of Hope:

• Live music by LeeRon Zydeco & the Hot Tamales, Zydeco-Cajun roots band
• Horse-drawn-carriage rides
• Gingerbread house raffle
• Live ice sculpting by Paul Strada
• Face painting
• Mascots from area sports teams and media outlets
• Costumed actors from the Alleyway Theatre production of "A Christmas Carol," running Dec. 5-22 (information and tickets at alleyway.com)
• Dunkin' Donuts, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Buffalo and BJ's Wholesale Club to provide refreshments
• Visits and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
• Candle ceremony paying tribute to those we've lost their battle with cancer, and survivors still fighting the disease
• Animated light show: display of more than 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights, orchestrated to holiday music. The light show will continue to run every 30 minutes between 5 and 8 p.m. from Dec. 6, 2013, through Jan. 2, 2014.

In addition to tickets for the gingerbread house raffle, items available for purchase will include blinking sunglasses, for $10, and angel ornaments on which guests can write messages of hope and inspiration, for $1.

Guests should register to attend Tree of Hope by Monday, Dec. 2, to 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or online at www.roswellpark.org/treeofhope.

Free parking will be available in RPCI's on-campus parking ramp, located at Carlton and Elm streets in Buffalo.

Western New York, Western Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario television viewers can watch the tree lighting on Channel 4 during "News 4 at 6 p.m." that evening.