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Date: 12/7/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – Hundreds of families gathered on the lawn of East Longmeadow’s First Congregational Church, milling around in the brisk winter air on Dec. 2. Children ran and played while the adults huddled in groups, chatting with their neighbors. As the last daylight left the sky, everyone gathered to look out over the rotary. The first lighted trucks could be seen approaching from North Main Street. Santa was coming.
There are few holiday traditions in East Longmeadow as popular as the annual tree lighting. For the second year, the tree and Nativity scene, sponsored by the East Longmeadow Lions Club, were joined by a lighted truck parade. First responder vehicles were joined by a military truck and working trucks, lit with multicolored bulbs, or decked out with inflatable Santas and Grinches.
A fire engine pulled to a stop in front of the church, where the town’s tree stood. Out stepped Santa Claus and the crowd let out a cheer. Santa greeted boys and girls of every age, before leading a countdown to the tree lighting. On the count of three, the large tree burst into colors, to the applause of the crowd.
After the tree lighting, Santa invited everyone into the church’s Fellowship Hall for cocoa and cookies, and to share with him their hopes for Christmas Day.