EAST LONGMEADOW — A beloved community tradition will return on Dec. 5, when residents gather on the lawn of the Congregational Church for the annual Tree Lighting sponsored by the East Longmeadow Lions Club.
The event, first organized by the Lions in 1953, now anchors an expanding Holiday Kickoff Weekend that local businesses, organizations and volunteers have embraced with enthusiasm.
For many involved, the tree lighting is more than an annual celebration — it’s a link to their own childhoods. “The Lions are very proud of their long-standing tradition of lighting the tree at the rotary,” said Lions Club member Donna Martinez. “Many of the people who are now involved grew up attending the event each year, and it is one of many annual town traditions that make East Longmeadow such a special place to live.”
Behind the scenes, volunteers dedicate hours to setting up and maintaining the lights and iconic star atop the towering evergreen. “A lot of work goes into installing and maintaining all the lights and the star on the tree,” Martinez said. “Each year, we have many volunteers who happily work long hours in cold and sometimes snowy conditions because this has been a cherished tradition.” She noted that ArborTech Tree Services has donated “countless volunteer hours year after year hanging and repairing the lights,” joined in recent years by East Meadow Enterprises and Dreamscape Designs Landscaping.
But the tree itself — donated in 1976 — is approaching the end of its lifespan. Martinez said a replacement will be necessary in the next few years. “It is hoped that the community will be supportive of efforts to obtain a replacement when that time comes,” she added.
Several years ago, the Lions envisioned expanding the tree lighting into a larger community celebration. “We talked about making the tree lighting the start of a new tradition, a Holiday Kickoff Weekend,” Martinez explained. After reaching out to local groups and businesses, the idea took off. “So many people came up with different ways to participate. Each year, local businesses and organizations hold events, such as special sales at stores and events at local churches.”
Families begin gathering at the Congregational Church as early as 5:30 p.m., where children can join “Reindeer Games” organized by the recreation department.
The increasingly popular lighted truck parade — created by Lions member and truck driver Roland Bolduc — will again precede the lighting. “He reached out to some people he knew, and the idea took off,” Martinez said. The parade steps off at 6 p.m. from 200 North Main St., travels down North Main, circles the rotary, and proceeds up Somers Road, concluding with an East Longmeadow Fire Department truck escorting Santa Claus.
As always, Santa will enter the rotary to light the tree before heading inside the church, where families can warm up with hot chocolate and cookies, and children can share their Christmas wishes.
“It is a fun night for the participants and all the volunteers,” Martinez said, “and one that has made cherished memories for generations of families throughout the years.”
