South Amboy holiday events to start with tree lighting

By JACQUELINE DURETT
Correspondent

SOUTH AMBOY — There will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate the holidays in the city.

At 6 p.m. Dec. 5, a holiday tree lighting and fire truck parade will take place at the transit plaza on Broadway. As part of the fun, Santa will make an appearance at 6:30 p.m., and first-responder teams will compete for the best-decorated vehicle.

There will be free refreshments and entertainment for attendees, as well as a collection for local food banks.

The Sadie Pope Dowdell Public Library, 100 Harold G. Hoffman Plaza, will hold its annual holiday open house from 6:30-8:45 p.m. Dec. 9.

“Take a break from seasonal demands while savoring refreshments and listening to the upbeat women’s band Virago. Everyone is invited,” Library Director Elaine Gaber said. “You don’t need a library card to attend. However, if you’d like to sign up for a card, it’s free for South Amboy residents.”

The library also will hold a children’s holiday program at 3 p.m. Dec. 13.

On Dec. 17, the city will hold what is becoming a very popular annual tradition in the city: the Holiday Tour of contestants who participated in the home-decorating contest. The event, which started in 2011, is free but open only to city residents.

While residents take a trolley or bus ride through town to look at pre-determined stops, they’ll also learn about the history of South Amboy thanks to the support of the city’s historical society.

In the past, Joseph Szaro of the society has guided participants through the history of South Amboy, from its 1640 Dutch founding to the celebrities and professional athletes who have called the city home to sites used in various films.

Attendees also have had the opportunity to wait for the trolley at City Hall while enjoying Christmas caroling by students from the South Amboy Middle High School. Impromptu caroling on the trolley is also not unusual.

“Last year, we transported approximately 250 people on the Holiday Tour between the Holiday Trolley and our new senior bus,” said Business Administrator Camille Tooker. “We should have about the same numbers this year.” The first year, Tooker said officials expected about 40 attendees, but more than five times that number registered. The event is family-friendly.

Trolley reservations, which are firstcome, first-served, are currently being taken through the recreation office at 732-316- 8212, and will likely fill up.

The office can also provide additional information on the home-decorating contest, and tree lighting and fire truck parade.

For information on library events, call 732-721-6060.