All around the island, many communities host Christmas Tree and Menorah Lightings this time of year, and each one is special in its own way.
The ceremony in Centereach has been held for the last thirty-four years in front of the very traditional bank building at 2100 Middle Country Road, always coordinated by the community-minded people of the Centereach Civic and other community members who come together to make it the great event that it is. Although it stays true to tradition – high school choirs (a crowd favorite), free cookies and cocoa, and Santa coming in on a fire truck to hand out treats – this year had some fun twists. Suffolk County Legislators Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) helped the Civic secure $5,000 this past year, allowing them to hire a professional tree lighting company.
This money came by way of a cultural grant, so the Civic members got creative and turned the annual ceremony into more of a Dickens Fest. Nite Lite Landscaping of Farmingville came up with a totally new and different way to light the tree and will allow for the Centereach Civic to expand on all the property decorations each year. Other new additions were glow stick candles, little bags of chocolate coins, and people dressed in Victorian-era garb, all to elaborate on the Dickens Fest theme.
Another big change was Santa coming out at the beginning and the ceremony kicking off with the tree being lit. Traditionally, lighting the tree was always the culmination of the event, but this was a nice touch, as the tree was lit the entire time. It is simply a beautiful way to celebrate community and to start the holiday season with your neighbors. The night always wraps up with the little ones coming up to the microphone and singing their favorite holiday songs, always a very sweet way to end to the festivities.
