12 DAYS OF FUN TO BEGIN BURBANK RESIDENTS TO LIGHT CITY TREE WEDNESDAY.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - Twelve days of holiday festivities will begin Wednesday with a tree-lighting ceremony at City Hall, caroling and a small parade along downtown streets.

A live Christmas tree more than 20 feet tall arrived Monday from Washington state and was decorated with lights, ornaments and bows. The Walt Disney Co. will send Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse for the annual ceremony, and the tree will be lighted after a public countdown.

``It's really about getting people into the Christmas spirit, and we have a lot of fun things planned for downtown for the next 12 days,'' said City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, who will be at the ceremony with other officials.

After the lighting, a truck will carry more than 80 carolers, with 35 dancers following behind, in a small parade. A vintage police car and a motorcade of City Council members with their families will ride ahead of Santa Claus, who will be at the rear in a vintage fire truck.

Murphy said she looks forward to bringing her 12-year-old son to the AMC Plaza midday event Saturday, when there will be 15 tons of snow for children to play in. All the events during the 12 Days of Holiday Cheer will be downtown, and most of them are free.

``It's really to help energize downtown and bring people (there) and just really celebrate,'' Murphy said.

At 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the YMCA will hold a ``reindeer run'' - a foot race for children dressed like reindeer - on San Fernando Boulevard between Magnolia Boulevard and Orange Grove Avenue. Registration for the event is $5.

``It's really exciting when you get a couple hundred 4-, 5- and 6-year- olds, with jingle bells on their feet and reindeer antlers on their heads, running down the street,'' said Bryan Madden, chief executive of the Burbank Community YMCA.

Among the scheduled events:

A performance by the Media City Ballet of ``Joys of the Season'' at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Burbank Town Center.

Breakfast with Santa at the Burbank Town Center at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11; tickets, $7 each.

A trolley tour of homes with special Christmas decorations starting at 6 p.m. at San Fernando Boulevard and Palm Avenue on Dec. 11. The tour costs $5 and a donation of two canned goods for the Salvation Army, and those interested must call [phone] to reserve a spot.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO:

--The tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave. The first 100 attendees will receive hula hoops. For a complete list of events in the 12 Days of Holiday Cheer, go to www.downtown-burbank.org.

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IF YOU GO (see text)