Reading Holiday Tree Lighting 2019 Celebration Announced

READING, MA — The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce's 28th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration will be held Sunday, Dec. 1 on the Reading Town Common. The ceremony will take place from 2-4:30 p.m.

"The Chamber hosts the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting event to highlight our beautiful town center and to give back to the community," Robin Krane, chamber vice president, Tree Lighting Event chair and owner of Fitness Within, said in a statement.

Free Santa photos are available until 4 p.m. at Reading Cooperative Bank, a Gold Sponsor of the event. Jenny the Juggler, sponsored by Classified Realty Group, will entertain attendees on the cobblestones across from the Common. An inflatable maze sponsored by Mark Tango Plumbing, The Maids, and People's United Bank will also be on the cobblestones.

Watch as an ice sculpture is carved on the common thanks to sponsors Michael Giacalone, CPA, Biltmore & Main, Keating Law/Tin Bucket, Weston & Sampson, and NewFed Mortgage. Enjoy a balloon twister, face painter, and caricature artist at Northern Bank, a Gold Sponsor of the event. Beloved characters such as Olaf and Elmo will be seen strolling throughout the afternoon thanks to Reading Gymnastics, a Silver Sponsor. Doyon's Appliance, also a Silver Sponsor, will be on the cobblestones handing out popcorn and balloons. Enjoy cookie decorated at Goodheart's Children's Shop on Main Street sponsored by Goodheart's, Means Business for Computers and Perfecto's Caffe. Stop by Eastern Bank for refreshments and a performance by Colonial Chorus in Dickens costumes.

Go for a cozy horse drawn hayride or trolley ride sponsored by O'Sullivan Architects; Elle Salon; Middlesex Animal Hospital; Dracut Window & Door; Lee Kimball; Representative Bradley Jones; Sartell Electric; Reading Rotary; Artis Senior Living; Latham Law Office; The Goddard School; PDA Dental; Douglass, Edgerly & Bessom Funeral Home; Premier Realty; Weston & Sampson; DeMoura Smith; and The Residence at Pearl Street. The hayride picks up in the parking lot in front of Christopher’s Restaurant while the trolley ride picks up on Woburn Street by The Venetian Moon.

Enjoy Platinum Sponsor Austin Prep’s Choir on the cobblestones at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Reading Memorial High School Band on the Common at 4 p.m. Delicious local food will also be available for purchase throughout the event.

The celebration culminates at dusk when Santa and his elves officially light the Town Common for the holiday season. For additional details on the event, specific times of various activities, and a full list of sponsors, please visit http://bit.ly/readingtreelighting2019.