Community Corner

TELL US: What Should Happen with the Concord Christmas Tree Lighting?

Some city councilors want events combined; organizers say, No way. What do you think?

It’s been a tradition for as long as anyone can remember – the Concord Christmas Tree Lighting holiday event happens at the Statehouse Plaza on the night after Thanksgiving.

In recent years, the event, organized by Concord City Councilor Dick Patten and others, with private funds, has included fireworks, and it’s a fun, free opportunity to visit Downtown Concord.

Last week, after a presentation by Intown Concord, some councilors openly suggested that it might be time to consider combining the tree lighting event with another downtown event, Midnight Merriment, which happens a week after the tree lighting, due to the construction problems that will take place in connection with the Complete Streets project. The thought by one was that it would be better for downtown businesses to have one event in the evening instead of two.

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During the discussion, Patten sat silent but later shook his head indicating, No, he wouldn’t support the idea of combining the events.

On Thursday, Patten posted a blog entry on Patch explaining some of the history of the event. Permits are currently in place for this year’s event to happen the day after Thanksgiving, like normal, at the Statehouse Plaza.

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A lot of people in Concord are publicly and privately wondering about this idea. Should the events be combined? If so, why? Isn’t it better for businesses to have two nights where thousands of people are shopping in Downtown Concord instead of one? Since everyone is at the mall anyway for Black Friday, should the group just move the event to the Heights? 

What do you think? Leave a note in the comment section. 


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