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11/19/2020 11:00 PMThis year, the Town of Branford's Christmas Tree will be lit during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 1, which will be shown on Facebook Live (time to be announced) on BCTV (@MyBCTV).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Branford's annual holiday parade and traditional gathering on the green to view the tree lighting will not take place. However, Santa will come to town light the tree on the town green this year, as always, and that moment will be shared as part of the virtual event, said Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Dale Izzo. In addition, the department is planning a calendar of safe celebration programs and even at-home fun for families for the month of December.
Help to beautify the green for the holiday is being contributed by J. Witkowsky and Sons Tree Service (placement of lights on the tree), Flower Wonderland (holiday wreaths decorating fencing around the tree), and Van Wilgen's Garden Center, which provides the wreath bedecking Town Hall.
More information on the virtual Dec. 1 event, and other holiday community events planned for the season, will be shared by Branford Parks and Recreation Department through avenues including the department's Facebook page (@BranfordParksandRec).
Even with the need to stay within COVID-19 guidelines, Parks and Rec will be rolling out a number of safe and very imaginative holiday events in December, from a candy cane hunt to a Hanukah themed program, a drive-by to see Santa and more. The events will take place from Dec. 1 – Dec. 24, said Izzo.
"We're releasing the calendar of events on Thanksgiving eve [Nov. 25] and people can start registering," she said. "We're trying to have something everyday, even if it's an activity with your family at home."
The calendar and registration will be available online at http://www.branford-ct.gov/parks
The Tree Lighting will kick off the holiday season and the department has planned a "Holiday Light-Up Branford" event that encourages residents and business owners to decorate for the holidays and be part of Branford's "Reindeer Route." Participants can register their house or business to be viewed along a mapped out route beginning and ending on the town green, said Izzo.
"Instead of our usual holiday house decorating contest, we want to light up Branford," said Izzo. "If people register their house or business, we're going to put it on our Reindeer Route. So you can drive by to see the decorations, and it will end at town green [where] they can take a picture by the tree and post it on social media, and we'll share it."