If you were worried about the Washington Monument lighting being delayed by repairs, it wasn't even close.
The scaffolding that obscured the city landmark for most of the year was dismantled in early October, in plenty of time for workers to string rows of colored lights along the monument's column in preparation for Thursday's annual holiday gathering on Mount Vernon Place.
The dramatic monument lighting happens at about 7:45 p.m., and stage entertainment, which includes local choirs, begins at 6 p.m.
But the fun and festivities begin even earlier, at 5:30 p.m., with food and craft vendors assembling for a holiday village in the west square of Mount Vernon Place.
This year, there will be more of a local presence among the food purveyors, according to Mike Evitts of the Downtown Partnership, the organization producing the event in conjunction with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts.