Many of our Shoreline towns took advantage of the Thanksgiving weekend to hold their annual tree lighting ceremony. But many are still to come! This Thursday, December 5, New Haven will hold its annual tree lighting festivities on the New Haven Green beginning at 4pm - including performances by Neighborhood Music School, opportunities to purchase holiday crafter and of course a visit from Santa Claus.
On Friday, December 6 you can head to Company 1 Firehouse in North Branford for their annual event, which features the North Branford High School Chorus singing holiday songs.
The Guilford Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the Guilford Town Green so mark your calendars and bring the entire family to this joyous community event, also scheduled on Friday, December 6 starting at 6:00 p.m., to ring in the holiday season. From 4-5pm enjoy the Firelight Festival at the Henry Whitfield Museum to include a reading of The Night Before Christmas. At 5:30pm The North Guilford Congregational Church Handbell Choirs will perform a program of holiday favorites at St. George Church (Whitfield Street on the Green). Free will offerings will benefit Meals on Wheels. The official tree lighting happens at 6pm after which you can choose from many activites and performances happening around the Green. The Candlelight Stroll down historic Broad Street is a favorite sponsored each year by the Guilford Garden Club. The street will be closed to traffic from 6 – 9pm. Guilford High School Holiday Concert is taking place at the First Congregational Church. Tickets are still available for the 9pm performances on both Friday and Saturday evening. Tickets are available at La Rostecceria, 500 Village Walk, Guilford. The nationally recognized United Girls Choir will be in concert at 7pm at the First Church of Christ, Scientist on Park Street on the Green. Free will offering will also benefit Meals on Wheels. Christ Episcopal Church is featuring a performance by the Christ Church Choir and the Greater New Haven Community Chorus- Chamber Choir titled Music for the Philippines. Free will offering will benefit the typhoon relief efforts. And all are invited to enjoy free Cookies for the Community in the St. George Church Parish Hall sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
Lyme/Old Lyme will also have their annual tree lighting on Friday, December 6 from 4-5pm at the Town Hall. Following the tree lighting one can visit the Florence Griswold Museum’s The Magic of Christmas: A Holiday Tradition celebration featuring Fantasy Trees, Miss Florence’s Artist Tree with 140 works by artists from across the country who have donated to this one-of-a-kind tradition, and the Griswold House decorated to celebrate Christmas in 1910. Or head to the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts for the Student Holiday Art Sale Opening Reception. Or return to Old Lyme on Saturday for the third annual Light Up Old Lyme. |
Old Saybrook offers a Winter Stroll on December 6, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Join the Main Street Business Association for a fun evening of hayrides, a visit with Santa, music, treats and events at each business along Main Street.
Portland is going to be lighting 55-foot Blue Spruce at an annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Monument Square. The tree was chosen by the city's forestry section and will be lit with more than 3,000 LED lights. The event is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Friday and includes performances by the Maine State Ballet and Rick Charette and the Bubblegum Band.
The Killingworth Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to attend Christmas at the Farm on Saturday, December 7th at Parmelee Farm on Route 81, Killingworth. The Chamber has partnered with the Killingworth Lions Club and TD Bank to sponsor this annual holiday gathering. The event will open at 2:00 PM and conclude with the tree lighting at 4:30 PM. Come out and enjoy horse drawn carriage rides across the Farm's picturesque fields, storytelling with Santa, refreshments and crafts. The highlight of the evening will be sing-a-long caroling with local children's choirs and the lighting of our fabulous Christmas tree on the Farm's front lawn. There will also be Shop Local opportunities from some of Killingworth's local businesses inside our heated tent. Vendors will offer gifts, crafts, gift certificates and food as well as home improvement and end of year planning advice. Event parking is at the adjacent HK Middle School. There is a well-lit trail from the parking area to this FREE event.
The 25th Annual Niantic Light Parade & Winterfest 2013 will take place on Saturday, December 7th and promises to be the biggest and best ever. Two great events, one awesome holiday tradition. The day starts with the 2013 Winterfest beginning at 2:00 pm on Main St. This prelude to the parade, will feature the popular Chowder & Chili Cook-off, Pictures with Santa, Magic Shows, Face Painting, Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Ice Sculptures and much, much more! Then, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Fireworks will kick off the 25th Annual Light Parade. Come see the beautifully built and lighted parade floats, dance groups and Santa himself as they parade down beautiful Main St. in Niantic.
On Sunday December 8 you can venture to Madison and/or Westbrook for their annual holiday festivals. Meet on the Westbrook Town Green at 4pm for the annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting. Bring the family and visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, sing carols, make crafts, watch some great performances, decorate your bikes, take a carriage ride, or make S’mores.
In Madison, Santa will be available for children’s visits from 1:30 to 3:30pm on the porch of the Cafe Allegre, 725 Boston Post Road, Madison. The parade will begin at 4pm at the eastern end of the Stop & Shop and continue down the Post Road, through the center of town and end at the Town Green for the tree lighting. This year people are encouraged to march in the parade to help usher Santa into town. Participants may start at the beginning of the parade route or join in the fun along the way, and pets are welcome. Luminarias will light the parade route so that parade participants and Santa can find their way. Caroling and cocoa will accompany the tree lighting. The Madison A Better Chance (ABC) Program will present its Holiday Concert at 4pm in the First Congregational Church. This annual event features many local performers including the Shoreline Youth Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Hand High School’s ENCORE, Guilford High School’s Voices, Shoreline Chorale and a special appearance by Yale’s oldest co-ed a cappella group, Redhot and Blue.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Enjoy!
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