Toms River Kicks Off 250th Birthday Celebration At Tree Lighting

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The holiday season upon us, and Toms River officials are even more excited to kick off the season with the annual Christmas tree lighting.

The festivities are set to being at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, in the Town Hall Courtyard, and officials say they're not only marking the Christmas season, but also kicking off celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Toms River.

The event, which will include a performance by the Donovan Catholic High School chorus and Mrs. Claus reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas," concludes with the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the township's tree. This year, in addition to the lighting of the tree in the courtyard, the township's tree inside Town Hall will include 250th anniversary-themed ornaments created by students from Toms River's schools, officials said.

Santa is scheduled to arrive at 8 p.m. via fire truck, officials said.

The tree lighting festivities, sponsored by Downtown Toms River, the town's business improvement district organization, also includes a performance by the Amazing V magician and the Jersey Coast Youth Bands.

Photos with Santa are available and there will be hot chocolate and cookies for sale, with the sales benefiting Toms River Fire Company 1.

The township's 250th anniversary calendar also will be on sale at the event. The 13-month calendar costs $5 and is filled with historical photos of people and places and important dates in Toms River's history, officials said.

The following is the schedule for the tree lighting festivities, courtesy of Downtown Toms River:

6-6:20 p.m. Donovan Catholic Chorus
6:30-6:50 Youth Performance Group
7-7:20 Amazing V Magician
7:30-7:50 Jersey Coast Youth Bands
7:50-8 p.m. "Twas The Night Before Christmas," read by Mrs. Claus
8 p.m. SANTA ARRIVES!
8:15 PHOTOS WITH SANTA!

Toms River's Christmas tree, 2014. Photo by Karen Wall