North Reading Holiday Tree Lighting Festival on Sunday

The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Lighting Festival will take place on Sunday afternoon.

The festivities on the common will run from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The festivities on the common include caroling by high school singers, holiday singing by elementary and middle school choruses and the North Reading High School Marching Band and dance performances. The performances will take place near the Third Meetinghouse on the common.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their way to the common for the tree-lighting ceremony via a North Reading fire truck at about 4 p.m.

The lighting of the Christmas tree and other lights will be at 4:15 p.m.

Other activities happening near the common are:

Cookie Walk

The Friends of the Flint Memorial Library is sponsoring a Cookie Walk at the library from 2 to 4 p.m. in the activity room.

Visitors can warm up at the library, purchase a box and fill it with cookies made by North Reading residents. There will also be a free holiday craft.

Historic Homes Open House

North Reading’s historic buildings, including the Rev. Daniel Putnam House, the Damon Tavern and the West Village Schoolhouse, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 for Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday tree-lighting on the North Reading Town Common.

There will be warm drinks and goodies, as well as fireplaces to keep visitors warm in the Putnam House. Stay out of the cold and take a look through one of North Reading’s most important homes.

The Damon Tavern, a one-time inn and stagecoach shop, will also be open and the public can view the newly reopened Rufus Porter Ballroom, which features Porter’s murals. The ballroom was just reopened to the public after nearly three decades. Take a look at the 19th century murals and think about the work that went into such beautiful scenes.

You can also view the refurbished and furnished rooms in the 1880 inn rooms on the second floor and see what lodging was like for travelers in the 19th century.

Visitors should also drop by the tavern’s Welcome Center and admire the stenciled walls by Suzanne Korn.

Make sure to take a look at some of the North Reading gifts while you’re at the Putnam House or Damon Tavern. There are a lot of North Reading-related items, including the new North Reading High School Christmas ornament. The ornament, designed by local artist and North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society board member Don Doyle, offers a look at the former high school and new high school. A great gift for North Reading High graduates.

The West Village Schoolhouse will also be open with a historically-decorated Christmas tree with paper chains and candy canes.