Jefferson plans annual tree lighting

The annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Friday night, December 6, 2019 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Township Gazebo, which is located in the Municipal Complex at 1033 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong.

DJ Matt will be playing some holiday music until the Jefferson Township Middle School Chorus under the direction of Danielle Schreck performs “Sweet Singing in the Choir” and leads a holiday sing-a-long. Soon after, the switch will be thrown to light up the township Christmas tree in the gazebo and all the trees in the municipal complex.

Following that, the children will be gathered around Jefferson Township Council President Debi Merz to listen to a reading of the holiday classic “The Night Before Christmas” as they eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus.

When the time is right, Santa will enter the complex on his sleigh via a decorated Jefferson Township Fire Company No. 1 fire truck. The man in the red suit will visit with the children and hand out candy canes, and his sidekick Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is expected to be joining him. Complimentary coffee and hot chocolate with desserts will be available in the Municipal Building’s Lobby following the event.

Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, paper product, household cleaning product, and/or toiletry item to donate to the township’s three food pantries to help the needy in the community.

This Tree Lighting and Santa’s arrival in Jefferson Township events will also usher in the Jefferson Township Recreation Department’s Visit with Santa at Camp Jefferson on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.