Christmas celebrations kicked off on Arthur Avenue with a last-minute tree-lighting put together after officials canceled another one in the neighborhood.

For the first time ever, merchants teamed up to host a tree-lighting in the Arthur Avenue Market.

Community members and business owners say they scrambled to put the event together after financial stress left the fate of the traditional outdoor tree-lighting at Ciccarone Park this Saturday uncertain. 

News 12 previously reported that Councilman Ritchie Torres intervened and helped preserve that event, but community members moved forward with the marketplace lighting anyway.

One advantage to having the indoor event, participants say, is that the weather is no longer a concern.