Middletown Christmas Tree Lighting Will Be Dec. 4

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Ho ho ho, yes, it's time to start thinking about the Christmas season.

The Middletown Christmas tree lighting will be Dec. 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Middletown Arts Center (36 Church St, Middletown) Writes the Township:

Look who's coming to town! Catch the Middletown Arts Center Tree Lighting, followed by a holiday performance on December 4! Bring the whole family — get your photo with Santa, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, enjoy crafts and watch our ice sculptors! Free giveaway to the first 300 children at the event.

And Middletown elves will once again be collecting letters and delivering them directly to the North Pole!

Special "Letters to Santa" mailboxes will be placed around Middletown. To help our elves, please download Middletown's "Letter to Santa" template. Use this link

Print that out, have your son or daughter fill out the letter and then drop their letter, postage free, to any of the mailboxes. Santa will write a personalized return letter back to your child! Letters are free but please consider making a donation to the Middletown Cultural and Arts Council. To ensure delivery by Christmas, mailboxes will be removed on December 16.

Letters to Santa mailboxes in Middletown can be found at the following locations starting Nov. 15:

• Croydon Hall
• Middletown Library
• Middletown Arts Center
• Tonya Keller Community Center
• Town Hall