Cultural Events

Three Tree Lightings Planned For The Weekend

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Nov 30, 2018 11:15 AM

Newtown will once again hold three tree lightings this holiday season. All three are scheduled for the upcoming weekend.

The 34th Annual Ram Pasture Tree Lighting is scheduled for Friday, November 30. The event will begin with musical performances at 6:30 pm and continue with the tree lighting at 7. There will also be additional caroling, refreshments, and visits with Santa and Mrs Claus.

In the hours leading up to this year’s event, Newtown Parks & Recreation employees will be placing luminarias around Ram Pasture and on nearby roadways leading to the historic property.

The 18th Annual Sandy Hook Tree Lighting will take place the following night, on Saturday, December 1.

The event is being coordinated by Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity and will begin at 4 pm. Activities will be centered around the area of Church Hill Road, Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road.

Children of all ages are invited to meet Santa Claus, who will be arriving at 5 pm to begin visiting with attendees. Those who offer Santa a nonperishable donation for FAITH Food Pantry will be entered into a drawing to have the honor of lighting the trees that night.

Karaoke will be ongoing in the area of The Glen, where one of two trees will be lit at 6 pm. The trees are on the corners of Church Hill at Washington and Washington at Riverside, opposite each other.

Caroling and more karaoke will follow after the two trees are lit.

Faith at Newtown, at 4 Riverside Road, will again be hosting a Live Nativity presentation during Saturday’s special event.

The Ninth Annual Hawleyville Tree Lighting and Toy Drive will then follow on Sunday, December 2.

Residents are invited to gather at Barnabas Plaza, 23 Barnabas Road, for the one-hour event scheduled to begin at 5:30.

Holiday festivities will take place, including performances by the Dance Etc. Dancers, hot chocolate, and cookies from Hawleyville Post Office, free cheese pizzas from Papa Al’s, and — if everyone is well-behaved — a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus, delivered courtesy of Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department. John Voket will be the master of ceremonies.

Those planning to attend are asked to consider bringing with them an unwrapped toy or gift to be collected for The Newtown Fund, which benefits local families.

This event is organized by Stony Hill Four Corners, a business association covering the Hawleyville section of Newtown and the Stony Hill section of Bethel.

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire & Rescue members Greg Pettricione, at the top of the ladder, and Jamilyn Zapata, just below Greg, were part of a crew from the fire company that decorated the Barnabas Plaza tree on November 17. The firefighters were utilizing the fire company’s new ladder truck for the public service task. The tree will be formally lit during the third of three tree lighting events planned across town this weekend. —Donna Ball photo

HVFR member Miles Ball runs up the steps on the east side of Barnabas Plaza on November 17 during a work session to string lights on the tree that will be lit on Sunday, December 2.—Donna Ball photo

A crew from Bartlett Tree Experts — including Scott Keller, in the bucket — strung lights on the evergreen in The Glen on November 28, a few days ahead of the planned 18th Annual Sandy Hook Tree Lighting. Mr Keller was working on the tree at 1 Washington Avenue, within The Glen, early Wednesday afternoon. That tree, and the one on the opposite corner in Sandy Hook Center, will be formally lit during festivities planned for the late afternoon and early evening of December 1. —Bee Photo, Bobowick

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Three Tree Lightings Planned For The Weekend

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