Crowd fills Monument Square for Portland’s tree-lighting celebration: Photo

Monument Square was jammed Friday evening for Portland's annual Christmas tree-lighting celebration, which included a visit from Santa Claus and Rick Charette singing holiday favorites. Temperatures in the 50s pushed turnout above the projected 3,000 people to an estimated 5,000, said city officials. “It’s nice that it’s warm because last year it was freezing,” said Jamie Edwards of Gorham, who attends each year with her young family. Jill Brady/Staff Photographer