Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 2, 2022 Holiday Happenings and Blessings Town kicks off season of celebration and goodwill with Christmas tree lighting tonight at Saugus Center and the 12th Annual Christmas Tree Festival at the mEG building in Cliftondale By Mark E. Vogler H undreds of town residents – from tots to senior citizens – will gather at Saugus Center tonight to officially welcome a month of goodwill, highlighted by the holidays and holy days. It all begins at 5 p.m. with the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony and evening of family events that feature horsedrawn sleigh rides, a petty zoo, bounce houses, a trackless train, a photo booth and a chance for children to greet and meet Santa Claus. The actual tree lighting will begin at about 7 p.m. when a group of children get to turn on the lights of trees decorated around Saugus Center as Santa Claus arrives in town with a police escort. Upon Santa’s arrival, he will enter Town Hall and go to the second floor auditorium, where he will accommodate a long line of children and grown-ups who want to share a photo opportunity with him. The town’s tree lighting night is one of the signature community events of the year in Saugus and always draws residents from neighboring towns. The town’s Youth & Recreation Department, assisted by several other town agencies, is organizing the annual tree lighting event again this year. Tonight will also mark the opening of another popular holiday season event in Saugus – the MEG Foundation’s 12th A Living Nativity will be on display next weekend at New Hope Assembly Church (9 Assembly Dr. in Saugus) – Dec. 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday) – from 2 to 6 p.m. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Annual Christmas Tree Festival – which gets underway at 3 p.m. at the MEG Building (5458 Essex St.). The opening night of the tree festival will last until 8 p.m. and continue tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 3) from 3 to 8 p.m. and Sunday (Dec. 4) from 1 to 6 p.m. The Christmas Tree Festival will continue next weekend: Dec. 9 (Friday) and Dec. 10 (Saturday) from 3 to 8 p.m. Santa will arrive on Dec. 10 for photos from 4:30 to 6 p.m. There will also be a petting zoo on the front lawn from 5 to 7 p.m. Here are some of the upcoming holiday events planned this month in Saugus: The Saugus Garden Club will be holding a wreath decorating event tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 3) at 1 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church. If you wish to attend, call Donna Manoogian at 617-240-9003. Reservations are required because space is limited. The Saugus Middle and High School Bands and Chorus will be performing their winter concerts this month at the Saugus Middle/High School Complex’s Lemoine-Mitchell Performing Arts Center. The Middle School Band and Chorus will perform next Tuesday (Dec. 6) at 7 p.m. and the High School Band and Chorus will perform on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The Saugus Band Parents Association will have holiday raffle baskets and will be accepting canned goods in exchange for raffle tickets. The canned goods will benefit the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry at Cliftondale Congregational Church. Dec. 13 will also feature the THE TREE AT THE MEG: This tree was decorated by the Saugus Tree Committee at the MEG Foundation’s 11th Annual Christmas Tree Festival last year. This year’s spectacular showing of Christmas trees will have the town in the holiday spirit this weekend and next weekend. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) formal dedication of the Lemoine-Mitchell Performing Arts Center at the Saugus Middle/ High School Complex, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The auditorium is being named after two renowned performing arts educators who taught at Saugus High School for many years. Santa Claus will visit Breakheart Reservation next Sunday (Dec. 11) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Christopher P. HOLIDAY | SEE PAGE 9 READY TO LIGHT UP: The town Christmas tree that stands in the monument rotary at Saugus Center was decorated with red bows and Christmas lights in preparation for tonight’s annual town tree lighting event. Family fun activities are set to begin at 5 p.m., with the tree lighting ceremony and the arrival of Santa Claus set for around 7 p.m. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
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