Festive season under pandemic: Tbilisi streets adorned for limited Christmas, New Year's Eve celebrations

A view on Freedom Square in downtown Tbilisi, with festive lighting set up for the Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

A young visitor of nighttime celebrations seen with the backdrop of lighting and decorations installed in the downtown. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Tbilisi's New Year Tree, which signifies the formal start of festive season, was lit up in front of the parliament building on Thursday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The lighting and decorations selected for adorning the central part of the city will remain lit up during hours when traffic is restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

While no Christmas village was set up in the city due to COVID-19 risks, parents brought their kids to locations featuring festive lighting for the mood of the holidays. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze opened limited celebrations with an address telling citizens the government would seek to create a celebratory atmosphere for children. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

A replica of Paris' Eiffel Tower is seen lit up on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, as part of festivities. Kaladze said his office planned to limit the lighting to hours before nighttime traffic restrictions start, but changed the plans after requests from citizens asking the City Hall to leave the decorations lit up during nighttime. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Visitors of all ages were seen taking pictures and sharing the modest festive spirit on Rustaveli Avenue following the formal launch of Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Another replica of a European landmark on the avenue brings a touch of London to the Georgian capital. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Decorations have been scattered along the Rustaveli Avenue, with this windmill construction seen in front of the Georgian National Museum. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

A cutout of an Old Town cityscape adorns celebrations of the launch of the holiday season. With the absence of Christmas village, the City Hall will use the expenses to help socially underprivileged families instead. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Kaladze told citizens in his address "festive mood, good spirit, warmth and love" during the holidays was "the principal weapon against the pandemic", as his office launched the limited celebrations. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The City Hall will host music shows on December 31, January 6 and January 14, however the concerts will be livestreamed instead of hosting crowds, with citizens invited to responsibly enjoy spending time in the streets throughout the weeks of the festive season. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Continuing the tradition of setting a theme for annual celebrations, Tbilisi has been dubbed "The City of Solidarity" for the 2020-2021 festivities. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.