GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - The holiday season is now officially underway for Green Bay as community members gathered outside the Brown County Courthouse for the Peace Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday evening. The ceremony, hosted by Downtown Green Bay, Inc. and the People for People of Green Bay, Inc., kicked off at 6 p.m. featuring songs from the Chappell Elementary Show Choir, essay readings by Leonardo da Vinci students to promote peace. Little Chute’s St. Johns gets new parish center Local leaders also gave some speeches, and then the countdown struck zero as the colors of the Peace Tree started to glow throughout the night. "This is a great way to kick off the Holiday season here in downtown Green Bay," Mayor Eric Genrich said. Green Bay food pantry looks for volunteers and a change in leadership The Peace Tree Lighting 'marks' the beginning of holiday season in Green Bay as it prepares the community for Saturday morning. The 40th Annual Green Bay Holiday Parade, presented by HSHS St. Vincent Children's Hospital will fully kick-off the holiday season at 10 a.m. on Saturday, as the streets of downtown are filled with the theme of "Hometown Holiday."