The raising of the Jack Kazanzas Star in Downtown Orlando takes place this weekend!

The Jack Kazanzas Star will once more hang proudly across Orange Ave. in Downtown Orlando, kicking off this year's holiday season.

The holidays are coming! An Orlando holiday tradition, the raising of the Jack Kazanzas Star 50 feet over Orange Avenue will take place on the morning of Sunday, November 23 at 8 am.

The more than 50-year tradition of raising the 600-pound golden star started in the 1950s. Since then, the Star has come to symbolize the start of the holiday season in downtown Orlando.

Bright and early on Sunday morning, City of Orlando staff will transport the star on a trailer to downtown where it will be assembled at the intersection.

The star will be raised and secured in place with the assistance of Orlando Utilities Commision using lifting equipment, bucket trucks and cranes

Check out the latest Christmas and Holiday News from throughout Central Florida. From the theme parks, to the attractions, shopping malls and resort hotels, you will be dazzled with holiday cheer, including the most spectacular events at the theme parks and attractions, glittering community events and parades, plus, magical parties, eats and treats, and so much more!

The 50 plus year tradition of raising the 600-pound golden star started in the 1950s when two competing department stores, Ivey’s on the east and Dickson & Ives on the west of Orange Avenue, joined together in 1955 to hang the Christmas star between the two.

In 1984, after the department stores had closed, Jack Kazanzas, a lifelong resident of Orlando, led a campaign to raise funds to replace the original Christmas Star that had fallen into disrepair.

In 2010, the city rewired the star which is now made up of more than 4,000 LED lights.

The Star has come to symbolize the start of the holiday season in downtown Orlando, and is a welcome sight for many here in Orlando at the holidays..

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