Downtown San José lit up with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at the Children’s Hospital. The tradition has taken place since 1964 in the heart of “Chepe,” as San José is known, and this year the tree was decked out with 22,000 lights, according to an event manager. Hundreds of kids and parents enjoyed the latest edition of the tree-lighting ceremony, which included music and other festivities.
Here’s a look:
![Emily Villalobos, 6, enjoys the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Children's Hospital on Thursday, December 3, 2015.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-1-1000x668.jpg)
![Naomi Salinas, 5, gazes at the newly lighted Christmas tree at the Children's Hospital in downtown San José.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-2-1000x668.jpg)
![Hundreds of Costa Rican kids and their parents attend the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Children's Hospital,](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-3-1000x668.jpg)
![Patients from Costa Rica's Children's Hospital watch the Christmas Tree from inside.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-4-1000x668.jpg)
![Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in Costa Rica do a little jingle at the lighting of the Christmas Tree.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-5-1000x668.jpg)
![Los Ajenos band thrills the crowd at Thursday's annual Christmastime celebration.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-7-1000x668.jpg)
![Estebán Chacón, 2, and his aunt Jimena Chacón stand under the Christmas tree at the Children's Hospital on Thursday, December 3, 2015.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-8-1000x668.jpg)
![Camilia Rojas, 10, enjoyed the music under the Christmas tree outside San José's Children's Hospital.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-9-1000x668.jpg)
![The lighting of Costa Rica's Children's Hospital Christmas tree.](https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Childrens-Hospital-Christmas-Tree-10-1000x668.jpg)