Tree Lighting Kicks Off Holiday Festivities

ORLEANS – It’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Orleans.

 Last week, members of the Orleans Improvement Association got into the holiday spirit by hanging lighted snowflakes in the village green. The setup is prelude to Friday’s annual holiday stroll and tree lighting ceremony, which the association is hosting in partnership with the Orleans Chamber of Commerce.

 Strollers will gather outside the Snow Library at 4:30 p.m. Friday, and will step off down Main Street to Depot Square at 4:45. Association members will hand out elf hats to strollers en route to the square, where the Christmas tree will be lit across from the Hot Chocolate Sparrow at 5:30. The cast from the Academy of Performing Arts’ upcoming production of “Elf” will also be on hand to sing carols for residents and visitors, while students from Washashore Music will perform holiday songs.

 This is the second year that the chamber has partnered with the association in coordinating the long-running holiday event, said Judy Lindahl, the chamber’s executive director.

 “They’ve always had the tree lighting the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and we decided to move it to Friday, just to make it a little more special as a standalone event,” she said.

 “Our goal has always been to include businesses and enhance the downtown area for the community during this holiday season,” said Nancy Jorgensen, the association’s president, on collaborating with the chamber, the academy and Washashore Music.

Lindahl said the signature community event not only helps jumpstart the holiday season, but also the busy shopping season for local merchants. Friday’s tree lighting ceremony will lead into Small Business Saturday, where local businesses will offer special deals and incentives to shoppers in recognition of the start of the holiday shopping season.

 “We’re making sure that everyone knows that Orleans is anticipating a great holiday season, and we will get the word out for them that this is where [people] want to shop,” she said.

 Also on Saturday will be Santa’s annual visit to Orleans. Santa will arrive at 8:15 a.m. at the Orleans Yacht Club by boat for this year’s Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Registered attendees will be able to watch Santa’s arrival from the yacht club’s patio, which will be followed by a buffet breakfast courtesy of The Rail. Staffers from Cape Cod 5 will act as volunteer servers for the breakfast.

 “[Breakfast with Santa] is completely sold out for the first time since we've done it, which is really exciting,” Lindahl said.

 Following the breakfast, Santa will make his way over to Snow’s Home and Garden on Main Street, where he will meet with children and families. 

 There’s plenty more holiday events planned. The annual Holiday Shopping Stroll happens on Friday, Dec. 6, with the Santa Stampede road race the following day. For more information about the upcoming events, visit www.orleanscapecod.org.