Baltimore’s Washington Monument lighting through the years

Andrea Carros Schrenk, an instructor at the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh, puts the finishing touches on the cake to commemorate the 25th lighting of the Washington Monument.

Monument lighting 1999  (Barbara Haddock Taylor / Baltimore Sun)

The 31st annual lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument in Mount Vernon kicks off the Christmas season.

Nick Sheridan, left, and Suzanne Shaw participate in a an anti-war protest during the monument lighting in 2002.

The 32nd annual lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument as seen from the Clarion Hotel.

Fireworks dance around Baltimore’s Washington Monument in a view from the east.   (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

Fireworks dance around Baltimore’s Washington Monument in a view from the east.   (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

People are silhouetted as fireworks dance around Baltimore’s Washington Monument in a view from the east  (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

A view of the annual lighting of the Washington Monument from the Park Plaza building on North Charles Street.   (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

This is the annual lighting of the Washington Monument, to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. This was shot from the Park Plaza building on North Charles Street.   (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

People are silhouetted as fireworks dance around Baltimore’s Washington Monument in a view from the east.  (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

The 45th annual Downtown Partnership Washington Monument lighting concluded with fireworks.

Dru Hill performing one of their new Christmas songs at the 2017 Monument Lighting.

The Baltimore Rock Opera Society performs at the 2017 Monument Lighting.

The 46th annual Downtown Partnership Monument Lighting in Mount Vernon.