Annual tree lighting ceremony held in SF's Union Square

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Hundreds of people gathered Friday evening for this year's tree lighting ceremony in San Francisco's Union Square.

The event is in its 25th year. The tree is 83-feet tall and decorated with 33,000 energy-efficient led lights and more than 1,000 ornaments.

Just before the ceremony, there was a standoff between police and protesters on Stockton and Geary streets.

Police created a human shield to prevent the large group of people from disrupting the tree ceremony.