The town's three Christmas/holiday trees will be formally lit for the holidays, December 2-4.

Newtown's oldest tree lighting celebration will open the weekend.

The 32nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ram Pasture is scheduled for Friday, December 2. The event will begin with musical performances at 6:30 pm, and culminate with the tree lighting at 7, followed by caroling, refreshments, and visits with Santa and Mrs Claus.

Dr John Reed, former superintendent of schools, has been given the honor of lighting the tree this year.

During the hours leading up to the big event, members of the Ram Pasture Tree Lighting Committee will be out, placing luminarias around Ram Pasture. Lit around sunset, the bags - which will also be set out by owners of surrounding properties along Elm Drive, Hawley Lane, and the sections of Sugar Street, Main Street, Main Street South, and Glover Avenue in the immediate vicinity - will lead everyone to Ram

Pasture for the first tree lighting of the season in Newtown.

Luminarias will remained lit until 10 pm Friday.

Saturday: Sandy Hook

The 16th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Sandy Hook Center will follow on Saturday, December 3.

The event will begin at 4 pm, leading to the lighting of the Norway spruce at the corner of Washington Avenue and Riverside Road at 6 pm.

Santa will arrive in Sandy Hook Center from the North Pole via a Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue truck at 5 pm. He will stay until 6 pm, during which time children can meet him.

A decorated mailbox will be set up so that children can also bring their letters to Santa to the tree lighting event. They will be delivered straight to the North Pole following the tree lighting.

The mailbox, according to Sandy Hook Hair Co. owner Bonnie Fredericks, will remain at the salon until December 15. Letters dropped off by that time, with return addresses, will give Santa time to respond before Christmas.

Faith at Newtown will again be offering a live Nativity scene in the parking lot outside their gathering place, the lower level of 4 Riverside Road.

Caroling and live music will also welcome people as they arrive in the center of the business district on Saturday. Caroling will continue for a short time after the tree is lit.

Businesses will have special offers and treats for visitors. This event is being coordinated by Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP).

Sunday: Hawleyville

The 7th Annual Hawleyville Tree Lighting is scheduled for Sunday, December 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, at Hawleyville Plaza, 23 Barnabas Road.

The event will double as a toy drive for The Newtown Fund, a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides assistance to local residents and their families.

Santa and Mrs Claus are planning to visit courtesy of Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company.

Refreshments will be provided, and songs of the season will be featured.

The event is sponsored by Stony Hill Four Corners Business Association.