LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The tree is set up and crews have been stringing lights up in Jefferson Square Park downtown for Light Up Louisville.

Earlier in November, city officials announced details about this year's event, which is being held on Saturday, Dec. 2 instead of the traditional Black Friday. 

The Light Up Louisville event helps kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the city's tree, a parade, Santa, and fireworks. There are also live performances, vendor booths, children's activities, photos with Santa, and Toys for Tots drop-off boxes.

New this year, Frosty the Snowman will be Grand Marshal of the Lots of Lights parade.

"Frosty is going to bring all of the excitement and behind Frosty is going to be colorful lights that include floats, bands, and carolers," Mayor Greenburg said in the Thursday news conference.

Light Up Louisville takes place at Jefferson Square Park, outside Metro Hall at Sixth and Jefferson streets. 

Since it's his first year as Louisville mayor, it will be the first time Greenberg plugs in the lights at the annual event.  

In years past, the event has been held on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But this year, the holiday tradition will be held a week later than usual on Saturday, Dec. 2. The city said pushing the event back allows city employees more time to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their families.

Light Up Louisville producer Wayne Hettinger -- the man in charge of Thunder Over Louisville every year -- said the changes will also help give families a break on Black Friday. 

"Over the years we realized that black Friday has become such a huge thing for people," Hettinger said. "So we were looking at moms fixing dinner on Thanksgiving, and then the next day on Black Friday they're going shopping, then coming home and getting the kids and trying to drag them downtown to see Santa Claus, and it's like why don't we take a look at that and move off a week. And in the process it gave everybody involved -- and I'm talking hundreds of people -- a chance to finally have Thanksgiving."

This year's tree is a 45-foot-tall Norway Spruce. It was cut down at the Forum at Brookside, a retirement community off Shelbyville Road in east Louisville, although several trees around the area were considered. 

IMAGES: Light Up Louisville kicks off holiday season in Jefferson Square Park

A chorus of residents sang before the first cut as a way to honor the 40-year-old tree. It was then hoisted onto a flatbed and driven to Jefferson Square Park by Metro Public Works, where crews spent more than an hour securing it to its base. 

Frosty the Snowman will be Grand Marshall of the Lots of Lights parade at Light Up Louisville this year.

The festivities kick off at 4 p.m. 

More than 35,000 people typically attend Light Up Louisville each year. Residents from the Forum at Brookside said they'd be in attendance for the big moment and to see their old friend in all its glory.

The tree will stay lit until just after the new year. Once the holidays are over, the tree will be taken down and ground into mulch for the Louisville Zoo.

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