The 27th annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Continues A Tradition

The 27th annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting is ready to get the Greater Concord area to celebrate the holidays.   This year's annual event is Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving with activities beginning at 3 p.m.  at the StateHouse Plaza.   Ever since I was born, the festive holiday lights on the light poles up and down North and South Main Street including side streets of School, Warren, Pleasant Street, Depot Street, Freight Street, and Pleasant Street Extension along with the Nativity Scene and the tall Christmas Tree in the middle of the plaza would be turned on at 5 p.m.    My parents would bundle my sister and I and travel to the downtown to see those lights.  Today, all we have left is the Creche and the tree.   

Thanks to the Concord Imaging Center  who stepped to be the major Corporate Sponsor and with so much appreciation from AutoServe of Tilton, Dennis Gaudette Family, David Mailhot Enterprises, Joe King Shoe Shop, NH Federal Credit Union, the Rowley Insurance Agency, the Stove Barn the statehouse plaza will be full of activities and singing.    Bruce Locke will be giving rides in his horse drawn wagon; the petting zoo will be on the lawn with all kinds of animals for children to feed; new this year, bouncy houses for the kids to play and jump on; and  music by the Brian Waldron Band to name a few.   The Rev. Robert Reed, CEO of Catholic Television Station in Boston will be present to offer the Blessing of the Creche and the Christmas Tree at 4:30 p.m.   Following the Blessing, he will sing Silent Night from the main stage.   Rev. Reed is featured on Catholic TV everyday leading the Rosary and a Mass.    The special tree in Eagle Square dedicated to the Armed Forces who won't be home to celebrate the holidays with their families will be lighted at 4:45 p.m. or following Rev. Reed.    Santa Claus will arrive at the plaza at 5 p.m. courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.   Santa Claus will be visiting with boys and girls once he arrives.  However, this is a small problem.   I am in need of  a camper trailer for him to sit in and visit with the children.   Currently calls to several recreational trailer businesses have yield nothing.  Please if you can help Santa, call Dick Patten at 496-2917.    

The countdown to light the tree begins at 5:59 p.m.  with special guests Al Kapreillian from TV 50,  Sean McDonald from WMUR TV 9 will leading the crowd to light the tree.  This year's tree is coming from Island Shore Estates, in Penacook.    It was hoped that we could buy LED lights, but the cost and loss of donations prevented us this year.  With thanks to Tom Cusano and myself, lights at the Heights Tree have been changed to LED.   The Skip Houle Memorial Fireworks display will light the skies over Concord.     

Donations are still needed to help this year's event.   It was sad when several big donors in the past decided to forego their donations this year.  The Concord Grange is the overall umbrella organization that helps to organize this.  This is a nonprofit event.    Please send donations to Concord christmas Tree Lighting Celebraton, c/o Dick Patten, 30 Pinewood Trail, Concord 03301.