The City of Birmingham hosted a Christmas tree lighting and block party in front of City Hall on Sunday night.

Hundreds of people gathered on the street in front of City Hall at Linn Park, with a concert by Fly Dave and the Party Rockers on a music stage facing the Christmas tree and food trucks lining the street.

The Regions Center downtown is decorated for Christmas and the Jefferson County Courthouse is lit with green and red.

Churches on Sunday observed the first Sunday of Advent, the Christian liturgical season of preparation for Christmas. That includes the lighting of candles on Advent wreaths.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve, so this year it will be observed from Dec. 3-Dec. 24. Christmas falls on Monday, Dec. 25.

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, will be Dec. 7-15. There will be a menorah lighting in front of City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. The grand menorah lighting at The Summit shopping center, Saks Plaza, will be held Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30 p.m.

See also: Regions building lights up Birmingham for Christmas