Northport’s Leg Lamp Lighting Ceremony is Back on

Northport’s most unique event, “A Christmas Story” Leg Lamp Lighting Ceremony, won’t be canceled this year after all.

Northport Hardware announced they weren’t going to hold the leg lamp lighting ceremony this year, but the community wanted to keep it going.

The leg lamp has been passed down to the new candy shop in town, Carl’s Candies. The store, located at 55 Main St., opened last month.

The iconic lamp, which has had its own ceremony in Northport Village for a decade, will be lit up Saturday, Nov. 26. The ceremony is set to start at 6 p.m. The family-friendly event will also have hot chocolate and cookies available for onlookers.

The lamp lighting ceremony became a Northport tradition in 2005 when Billy and Jimmy Reichert, owners of Northport Hardware, discovered the lamp while cleaning out the store’s basement in 2005. They rustled up a few patrons to watch an impromptu lighting ceremony, and the Northport tradition was born.

The lamp will remain on display in Carl's Candies storefront window for the remainder of the holiday season.

Main Street Cafe owner Darin Parker said the leg lamp lighting ceremony will be a great way to introduce the community to Carl’s Candies. Parker said the shop has plenty of beautiful window space that can be put to good use.

The ceremony will be held in partnership with Main Street Cafe’s third annual Shop Small Saturday, which kicks off that same day at 3 p.m.

“Shop Small Saturday encourages people to come down and shop in the Village,” Parker said. Those who participate in the event will receive discounts and raffle tickets to earn even more local deals.

Coverage from last year’s Leg Lamp Lighting Ceremony can be found here.

• More holiday celebrations in Northport: On Friday, the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Northport Village will feature a book signing event, caroling and a special appearance from Santa Claus.

The story behind the leg lamp:

In the film “A Christmas Story,” Mr. Parker opens a massive package and jumps with joy to find a lamp in the shape of a woman’s leg. As seen in the movie clip added below, Mr. Parker blows a fuse attempting to turn on the womanly-shaped object. ”It’s indescribably beautiful,” Mr. Parker exclaimed as the lamp lit up his living room. “It reminds me of the Fourth of July.”

“Turn off all the lights. I want to see what it looks like from the street.”

Patch photo