Ralph Macchio to host Huntington tree lighting

Ralph Macchio knows there's no place like home for the holidays. The Dix Hills-raised star of "The Karate Kid" movies and the Netflix series "Cobra Kai" will be on his home turf when he hosts the sixth annual Huntington Holiday Spectacular's tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 29.

"We've had different hosts of the tree lighting. This year we wanted to shoot for the moon and got a message out to Ralph Macchio," said Nicolina Sciasia, a producer of the event with the Huntington Village Business Improvement District. "We knew he grew up in Dix Hills and is a Huntington native and a hometown hero. We were hoping he would be so gracious enough to join us. We're over the moon excited."

Macchio follows Joe Gatto, the former "Impractical Jokers" star from Glen Head, who hosted last year's tree lighting.

The news of Macchio's appearance was announced Tuesday via Instagram by organizers of the Huntington Holiday Spectacular. The tree lighting, which will take place on Wall Street (between Main and Gerard streets) in Huntington village, starts at roughly 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 29. It immediately follows the Nautical Holiday Parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs from the Home Depot on New York Avenue up to the intersection of Main Street and West Neck Road.

Also appearing at the tree lighting will be actor-musician Tyler Hilton, who will be performing. "I’m SOOOO PUMPED! Can’t wait to hang with you, Huntington!!!," Hilton posted on the event's Instagram page. Hill is best known for playing Chris Keller on The CW series "One Tree Hill" and also portrayed Elvis Presley in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic, "Walk the Line."

The Huntington Holiday Spectacular, which again is being sponsored by Northwell Huntington Hospital, runs through Jan. 4. Among the other free events on the schedule include holiday markets on Fridays and Sundays, farmer's markets on Saturdays, visits from Santa Wednesdays through Saturdays, ice carving, dance performances, hourly light shows, a menorah lighting and more, Sciasia said.

The complete lineup of events will be posted on the Huntington Holiday Spectacular website in the next few weeks.