Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Slated For Friday

CONCORD, NH — The 34th Annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration will be held Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, in Downtown Concord. The event starts at 3:30 p.m. and runs until the tree is lit at 6 p.m. The event will be capped off by the Skip Houle Memorial Fireworks display after that, over the cornfields behind 6 Loudon Road.

North Main Street will be closed from School to Centre streets until 6 p.m.

This year's tree, according to organizer Dick Patten, is being held to benefit the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness.

"In conjunction with this," he said, "everyone is asked to bring items such as warm mittens, gloves, winter hats, wool socks, foot and hand warmers, chap sticks, coats, boots, and toiletry items, to stuff a Merrimack County Sheriff cruiser, which will be on the plaza."

New Hampshire State Police will also be collecting Toys for Tots, Patten said.

Bruce Locke will have horse drawn wagon rides from Capitol Street and there will be a petting zoo on the Statehouse lawn by Carriage Shack Farm of Londonderry. The Brian Waldron Band will play music and sing from the main stage at 4 pm.

The Christmas Creche is sponsored by the Concord Grange #322 with the Concord Knights of Columbus No. 110 lighting off the Nativity Scene prior to the opening of the celebration.

There will be games and activities by the Macaroni Kid-Concord on the north side of the plaza, and plenty of hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and more for people to enjoy.

Santa Claus will arrive at the Plaza at 5 p.m., courtesy of the Concord Fire Department, and Liberty the Concord Police K-9 will be present with Lenny O'Keefe to meet everyone and have photos taken with them.

WJYY FM 105.5 will be present to help emcee the program and is also sponsoring the fireworks.

"This non-profit event is held totally on donations received to help defray the expenses," Patten said. "The Concord Grange has provided the lights for the Plaza Tree, Eagle Square tree and the Heights tree for over 47 years."

Major donors this year include Service Credit Union of Concord, The Rowley Insurance Agency, AutoServ of Tilton, the Concord Business Center, NH Motor Speedway of Loudon, David Mailhot Enterprises of Concord, an anonymous donor, and WJYY.

Patten said donations are still needed to cover expenses. Donations can be sent to Concord Christmas Tree Lighting, PO Box 1482, Concord, NH 03302. Plaques will be presented to platinum, gold, and silver donors this year.

Call 603-496-2917 for information and plan on dressing warmly.

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