Holiday celebrations will begin in Plumsted Township with a tree lighting ceremony at 40 Main St.
By: Sarah Winkelman
PLUMSTED The holiday season is quickly approaching and Plumsted will start spreading its winter cheer at the township’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday.
This year’s celebration promises to be bigger and better than in years past, according to Cathy Baumgartner, a member of the Promotions Committee for the event.
The tree lighting will begin at 6:15 p.m. at 40 Main St. The arrival of jolly, old St. Nicholas will round out the event, giving kids the chance to tell him what they want for Christmas.
Santa Claus will make his grand entrance at 6:30, perched high atop a fire truck provided by the New Egypt Fire Company.
"The tree lighting used to be held at Oakford Lake, but the township is in the process of fixing up the lake," Ms. Baumgartner said. "The committee decided to move the celebration downtown in order to take advantage of the town center and its Main Street USA feel."
Ms. Baumgartner said the committee wanted to include local businesses and building owners, civic organizations and churches on and surrounding Main Street in order to promote the ongoing revitalization of the downtown.
The Christmas tree will be decorated by local Girl and Boy Scout troops. Ms. Baumgartner said businesses on Main Street will be open and decorated with lights to promote the holiday spirit. The New Egypt High School Art Club will be helping business owners decorate their display windows.
This year’s event features an open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 31 Main St., the old Municipal Building. As children await the arrival of the man in the red suit, they can have their faces painted or have a caricature done. Ms. Baumgartner said there also will be a balloon artist on hand.
In keeping with the holiday spirit, the Main Street New Egypt committee will be selling luminary sets to adorn walkways on Christmas Eve. Proceeds from the sale of the luminaries will benefit the revitalization of downtown Main Street.
Members of local Boy, Cub and Girl Scout troops, school choral groups and local church choirs will be caroling along Main Street before the tree lighting ceremony. Each group will lead the community in a carol after the tree is lit, Ms. Baumgartner said.
In order to quench the thirst of singing carolers, local civic groups will be providing free hot chocolate. Other groups will have cookies and other snacks to munch on while the New Egypt High School band entertains the crowd.