Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Newtown: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

NEWTOWN, PA — There is no shortage of things to do in Newtown to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree and menorah lightings in Newtown are:

• Newtown Tree Lighting, Friday, Dec. 2 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Newtown Fire Association, Liberty Street and Washington Avenue. The special evening will include the lighting of the town's tree and the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa is expected to make an appearance around 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Newtown Experience Group.
• The Bucks County Jewish community will celebrate the second night of Hanukkah at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley on Monday, Dec. 19 from 5 to 6 p.m. The public is welcome to enjoy crafts, candle lighting, music and donuts. The event is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation’s Bucks County Kehillah and Shady Brook Farm.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Click Here To Find Out Where You Can Visit Santa

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland, and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in Newtown may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• NBA/McCaffrey's Newtown Holiday Parade, Sunday, Dec. 4. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. from the Stocking Works on South State Street and ends at Durham Road and Sycamore Street. Parade announcers will be located at Goodnoe Corner next to the Green Parrot. The parade is presented by the Newtown Business Association.

Other holiday events not to be missed in Newtown include a holiday house tour, a chili luncheon and a holiday bazaar.

• The Newtown Historic Association's Holiday House Tour returns for its 59th year on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The self-guided walking tour will open up six private residences and six public buildings. Cost: $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State Street, and on-line at www.newtownhistoric.org/housetour. On the day of the tour, tickets can be purchased at the Half-Moon Inn, 105 Court Street, and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown.

• The Newtown Presbyterian Church will be hosting its annual chili luncheon on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11:30 to 2:30. Lunch includes chili (meat of vegetarian), salad, cornbread, beverage and dessert (eat in or take out). Cost: Adults, $14, and children, $5. Tickets will be available at the door. The church will also be raffling chances to win a handmade Star Pattern quilt.

• A Christmas Charity Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Dec 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St Luke's Episcopal Church, 100 Washington Ave, Newtown. It will feature a soup luncheon, silent auction, raffle baskets, bake table, white elephant sale, vendors and fellowship. Proceeds will benefit local charities.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Pennsylvania are:

• Shady Brook Holiday Light Show, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, open nightly through Jan. 8. The spectacular Holiday Light Show features more than three million lights illuminating acres of farmland. Encounter whimsical displays and familiar characters as you drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride.

• Allentown is celebrating the 26th anniversary of its spectacular Lights in the Parkway in a big way through Dec. 31 (with the exception of Dec. 25). The mile-plus, drive-through light show features hundreds of thousands of brilliant lights and dazzling animated displays set to favorite music of the holidays.

• More than five million twinkling lights will be all aglow at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, select nights through Jan. 1. Enjoy family-friendly rides, thrilling roller coasters, Santa and his reindeer, shopping galore in the Hersheypark Supply Co. and HP Collections shops, signature hot chocolate and other sweet treats.

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Clarification: An earlier version of this story mentioned the defunct Target Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, which no longer takes place.