Once Thanksgiving has come and gone, our attention quickly turns to Christmas.
Because if you think about, there’s really just over a month until Santa makes his way to homes in Concord (and around the world). And what better way to celebrate the official kickoff to the Christmas season, then going to one of those ceremonial tree lightings. It just so happens that Concord, Penacook and Bow are all hosting big ta dos before the calendar turns to December.
So if you like to see colorful lights on a large tree, then we have good news: each one is on a different day, so you could really go to all three.
Concord
The 31st annual tree lighting in the state capital will happen the day after Thanksgiving, like it always does, in front of City Plaza.
The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a petting zoo and pony rides on the State House lawn, along with horse-drawn wagon rides on Capitol Street. There will be a magic show at 4:15 p.m. It’s all free, but if you’d like to make a donation, no one will turn down your money – it will just be put toward next year’s event.
The Brian Waldron Band will perform all the holiday classics throughout the event, and it all leads up to some pretty exciting stuff.
Santa arrives via the Concord Fire Department at 5 p.m. with the official tree lighting at 6. But that’s not all, because if you look toward Loudon Road right after the lighting, you’ll see the Skip Houle Memorial Fireworks display.
If you feel like helping out those less fortunate, consider bringing a nonperishable food item or new, unwrapped toy to donate.
Bow
The Bow bandstand will be abuzz on Sunday with the town’s community tree lighting celebration.
Bow Memorial School students will kickoff the event with a live performance at 5 p.m. and sing their little hearts out all the way until Santa arrives at 5:15. The big guy will hang around for the evening and take pictures with all the little boys and girls in the bandstand.
There will be hot chocolate and cookies, and a fire pit to make s’mores – along with others so people can warm up during the night.
The Baker Free Library will have a Christmas craft for the kiddos to make, and the Bow Rotary will be selling trees and wreaths.
Since parking is kind of limited, there will be a shuttle from Bow Memorial beginning at 4:30 p.m.
You can also bring a new, unwrapped toy for their collection.
Penacook
Last, but certainly not least, the Village of Concord will light its tree on Nov. 29. It’s next Wednesday and is always held in the middle of the week to coincide with the Penacook Branch Library being open.
It all gets going at 5:30 p.m. with musical entertainment courtesy of the Blanchard family singers and other festive music. The official switch flip is at 6 p.m., followed by the Penacook Elementary School chorus filling the air with holiday cheer.
Santa will make his third appearance in the area, getting another ride from the Concord Fire Department for his arrival at 6:15.
No word on if he’s staying in town or racking up frequent flyer miles with all his trips to the North Pole. Don’t worry though, either way he’ll have time for a visit.
There will also be cookies and refreshments.
