Three Tree Lightings Planned For The Weekend
Trees at Ram Pasture, Sandy Hook Center, and in Hawleyville will be formally lit for the holidays this weekend.
Newtown’s oldest tree lighting celebration will open the weekend.
The 30th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ram Pasture is scheduled for Friday, December 5. The event will begin with musical performances at 6:30 pm, and culminate with the tree lighting at 7, followed by caroling, hot chocolate, and visits with Santa and Mrs Claus.
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, and Main Street South in the immediate vicinity — will lead everyone to Ram Pasture for the first tree lighting of the season in Newtown.
Saturday: Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook Village will host its annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 6. The event will begin at 4 pm with activities in the business district for all ages, leading to the tree lighting at 2 Glen Road at 6:30 pm. The community will celebrate the joys of the holiday season with fun festivities that will engage and entertain. Many retailers and restaurants will keep the festivities going after the tree lighting ceremony.
Among the participants this year will be Faith At Newtown providing hot chocolate, a free “Christmas Manger Pin” and an angel craft for the children, offered at the church’s new location at 2 Riverside Road; Family Fun Kuts and Fun Kids Consignments, with $5 hair feathers, temporary tattoos, discount coupons, and refreshments; and Newtown United Methodist Church, which will be hosting the monthly Spaghetti Supper (5 to 7:30 pm) and Coffeehouse (7:45 to 10 pm).
The Graceful Planet will be sponsoring karaoke and Jackie Gaudet & Friends will be caroling by the trees.
Various shops in Sandy Hook will be offering discounts on selected items, as well as free food and beverages. Among those are Porco’s Academy of Karate, with an interactive open house; Sandy Hook Wine & Liquor, wine tastings and wine specials; The Villa Restaurant, a kids menu for free dinners with the purchase of an adult meal (limited to two per family or group); Sandy Hook Hair Co. will be having an open house, food and beverage will be served, a llama land for petting, face painting and its customary snow machine.
In addition, labels and tags, located at 10 Glen Road, will have additional parking for visitors, will be hosting a jewelry show, and will be accepting coats, linens, and food for FAITH Food Pantry.
Santa will be arriving to Sandy Hook Village from the North Pole via a Sandy Hook Fire Truck at 5 pm and will stay until 6:30. Children can bring letters they have written to Santa to the tree lighting ceremony. A mailbox will be stationed there so that all letters can be delivered straight to the North Pole.
Santa will be in front of Sandy Hook Hair Co., at 102 Church Hill Road.
Attendees are being asked to bring a food pantry item, which will be delivered to FAITH Food Pantry. Food pantry donations should be taken to Santa, as close to 5 o’clock as possible. Upon receiving a food pantry donation, Santa will give a raffle ticket to each family, who will then be automatically entered into a raffle to win the honor of lighting the village’s tree that evening.
Visit sandyhookvillage.com, facebook.com/experiencesandyhook, or the Facebook event page at 13th Annual Sandy Hook Tree Lighting for more information.
Sunday: Hawleyville
The 5th Annual Hawleyville Tree Lighting is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, at Hawleyville Post Office plaza, 23 Barnabas Road.
This event, which will double as a toy drive for The Newtown Fund, will be kicked off by welcoming remarks by First Selectman Pat Llodra. She will be joined by Santa and Mrs Claus, who will arrive courtesy of Hawleyville Fire Department
Refreshments will be provided by local businesses, including Papa Al’s, Hawleyville Post Office, Hawleyville Wine & Liquors, New Main Moon, and Donna Kern Ball.
Entertainment will be provided by the Dance Etc-Stony Hill Rockettes and ukulele players from Sound Center, performing singing songs of the season.
Emcee John Voket will orchestrate the tree lighting countdown.
Attendees are asked to help spread the joy by bringing a gift or toy to be distributed to families in need by The Newtown Fund. Toys are also being collected at the Hawleyville Post Office.
The event is sponsored by Stony Hill Four Corners Business Association. For more information, visit stonyhillfourcorners.com or contact Terry Laslo at 203-426-5301.