Free Family Holiday Event to be Held on Saturday Dec. 10th in Dedham’s Historic Oakdale Square

DEDHAM, MA - Oakdale Square Alliance is holding its seventh annual Light the Night! Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 10th from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. The free event features a ceremonial lighting of the holiday tree on the Oakdale Square Common, caroling, live music, children’s gingerbread decorating activity, complimentary hot chocolate & coffee, and baked treats, as well as a special visit from Santa Claus. Participants are encouraged to bring a donation to the Dedham Food Pantry.

The family-friendly holiday event kicks off at 4:00pm inside the charming 140-year old Church of the Good Shepherd at 62 Cedar Street, where the church's Music Director Scott Mingels will lead the children in holiday carols starting at 4pm.

At 4:45pm Nick Vecchio from the Real School of Music and his talented students will perform more holiday favorites. While the music plays, children will enjoy a host of activities featuring gingerbread decorating station led by Janet Reynolds. The cookies and all decoration treats will all be provided free of charge. OSA’s Joan Campagna will oversee a kids’ crafting table where children will be making holiday reindeer & snowflake keepsakes to take home.

At 5pm, Santa Claus is expected to arrive and will be available to meet and pose for photos with all the good boys and girls who are attending the celebration. Weather permitting, participants will move over to the Oakdale Common, for the tree lighting ceremony and more old-fashioned, holiday sing-along fun. Plans are underway to once again have two of Dedham’s Veterans will throw the light switch after a community countdown.

OSA is seeking nominations for two Dedham Veterans (one man, one woman) to throw the light switch, which will light up the Christmas tree on the Oakdale Square Common. To assist in the selection of this year's Veterans, Oakdale Square Alliance is soliciting nominations from the community. The only requirement for nominations is that Veterans are currently living in Dedham and willing to help throw the ceremonial tree lighting switch. Nominations should be emailed to info@oakdalesquare.org, and include a short background about the nominee's service and how their light has helped make your family, neighborhood or community better.

The Light the Night event is made possible by the generosity of lead sponsors Dedham Savings, and Tedeschi Food Shops, which is owned by OSA Light the Night event Co-Chair Ziad Greige. Healy Law Offices LLP at 93 Cedar Street is providing free coffee and hot chocolate. A full list of contributing and in-kind sponsors will be publicized after the event.

Founded in 2010, the Oakdale Square Alliance was formed to promote, enhance, strengthen and improve the economic vitality, visual appearance and character, cultural and historic resources, accessibility, and overall quality of life in Oakdale Square. For more information latest news about Oakdale Square Alliance events and neighborhood volunteer opportunities, visit the organization on Facebook www.facebook.com/oakdalesquarealliance.

##