Tree Lighting Ceremonies Around New Jersey

By Young Soo Yang

An 80-foot tall spruce from Mount Olive, NJ will make its world debut today for the widely anticipated tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center. With Hurricane Sandy still fresh on the minds of many in the metropolitan area, the tree stands as a poignant symbol of resiliency and survival, having weathered the ferocious winds of Sandy just fine. Its owner, Joe Balku, not only lost power to his house during the storm, but also a few other trees.

While the Jersey spruce basks in the prime-time spotlight, here’s a look at tree lighting ceremonies that are taking place across the Garden State in the coming days.

ATLANTIC COUNTY:

Egg Harbor City — Tree Lighting Ceremony

• Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the EHC Library, Rose Mohr Learning Center, 134 Philadelphia Ave.

Hammonton — Christmas Tree Lighting

• Saturday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Hammonton, Bellevue Avenue at Central Avenue

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP:

Bordentown Township — Tree Lighting Ceremony

• Monday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. in front of the municipal building

Cinnaminson — Christmas Tree Lighting

• Friday, Dec. 7 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Wood Park Gazebo

Florence Township — 2012 Annual Christmas Holiday Tree Lighting Event

• Friday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Complex, 711 Broad St.

CAPE MAY COUNTY:

Christmas Tree Lighting

• November 30 at 7 PM at Rotary Park

HUDSON COUNTY:

Newport — The Skylark Newport tree lighting

• November 28 (Wednesday) from 4:30-8 PM at Newport Town Square, 100 Town Square Place, Jersey City

Kearny — Annual Kearny Tree Lighting Festival

• November 29 (Thursday) from 5:30-9 PM at Town Hall, 402 Kearny Ave., Kearny

Secaucus — 2nd Annual Christmas Bazaar + 3rd Annual Christmas Parade + 17th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

• December 1 (Saturday) — Christmas Bazaar goes from 11AM-5PM at the Recreation Center located at 1200 Koelle Blvd.
• Christmas Parade starts at 7PM where it arrives at Plaza Center for the Christmas Tree Lighting.

Bayonne — Annual tree lighting

• December 3 (Monday) at 4:30 PM at Fitzpatrick Park, 27th Street and Avenue C.

Hoboken — Annual tree lighting

• December 4 (Tuesday) at 5:30 PM in front of City Hall, 94 Washington St.

Jersey City — Annual tree lighting

• December 4 (Tuesday) beginning at noon at City Hall, 280 Grove Street.

Union City — Annual tree lighting

• December 5 (Wednesday) at 4 PM at the front steps of City Hall, 3715 Palisade Ave.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY:

Deptford Township — Annual tree lighting

• December 7 (Friday) at 6 PM at Deptford Recreation Center, located at 52 Montague Lane.

Glassboro — Glassboro Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

• December 7 (Friday) at 6 PM at the borough hall.

Mantua Township — Annual tree lighting

• December 6 (Thursday) at 6 at the Chestnut Branch Park.

Washington Township — Annual tree lighting

• December 7 (Friday) at 7 PM at the amphitheater in Washington Lake Park

Wenonah — Annual tree lighting

• December 1 (Saturday) at 6:30 PM in Wenonah Park.

Woodbury — Annual tree lighting

• December 1 (Saturday) at 4 PM at the North Green, Pleasant St., Woodbury Center.

Woodbury Heights

• December 1 (Saturday) 8 AM – 5 PM in Veterans Park

ESSEX COUNTY:

Montclair — Annual tree lighting

• November 30 (Friday) at 6 PM at Church Street Plaza

BERGEN COUNTY:

Mahwah Township — Annual tree lighting

• December 2 (Sunday) at 5 PM in the Senior Center at Town Hall, 475 Corporate Drive.

Garfield — Annual tree lighting

• November 30 (Friday) at 7 PM at Garfield City Hall

MERCER COUNTY:

Hope Township — Christmas Tree Lighting

• Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Hope Volunteer Firehouse

Trenton — Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall

• Friday, December 7 at 4:30PM at Trenton City Hall

MIDDLESEX COUNTY:

Metuchen — Christmas Tree Lighting

• Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Old Franklin School on Middlesex Avenue

MONMOUTH COUNTY:

Toms River — Christmas Tree Lighting
Friday, Nov. 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Toms River Hall Courtyard

Toms River — Lighting of the Official Ocean County Christmas Tree
Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 4:45 p.m. at the Ocean County Administration Building

MORRIS COUNTY:

Jefferson Township — Annual tree lighting

• November 30 (Friday) at 7 PM at the Jefferson Township Gazebo.

MONMOUTH COUNTY:

Shrewsbury — Tree Lighting

• December 1 (Saturday) at 4 PM at the borough hall gazebo on Sycamore Avenue

OCEAN COUNTY:

Toms River — Christmas Tree Lighting

• Friday, Nov. 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Toms River Hall Courtyard

Toms River — Lighting of the Official Ocean County Christmas Tree

• Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 4:45 p.m. at the Ocean County Administration Building

SOMERSET COUNTY:

Rocky Hill — Holiday Party & Tree Lighting

• Sunday, Dec. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Amy Garrett House

SUSSEX COUNTY:

Byram Township — Tree Lighting and Christmas Party

• Sunday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. at Cranberry Lake Fire House

Fairview Lake — Fairview Lake YMCA Tree Lighting

• Friday, Dec. 7 from 6 to 8 PM

Wantage Township — Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

• Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 PM with chamber singers and crafts beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Wantage School

UNION COUNTY:

Garwood — Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration

• Saturday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. in the parking lot at Borough Hall on the corner of Center Street and South Avenue

Township of Union — Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

• Sunday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Municipal Building

WARREN COUNTY:

Harmony Township — Christmas Tree Lighting

• Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Harmony Township Elementary School