Monday night will be the 80th time the enormous Monterey cypress parked in front of McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park will be lit up for the holiday season.
Unlike the white fir in Union Square that travels down from the mountains to illuminate The City, this one has been rooted in front of John McLaren’s old stomping ground at 501 Stanyan St. for more than a century, serving as an iconic image for the Recreation and Park Department year-round.
Rec and Park’s 80th annual tree-lighting ceremony starts at 5 p.m. and will include Santa Claus, arts and crafts and carolers.