Essex Featured On Today Show's 'Merriest Main Streets'

ESSEX, CT — Connecticut isn't just home base for nearly every Hallmark movie — now the state can claim it has one of the "Merriest Main Streets."

NBC's Today Show broadcast live from Essex on Tuesday as part of the series celebrating festive towns. The show highlighted Ivoryton Illuminations, Essex's display of hundreds of thousands of lights on the Ivoryton Green.

The Illuminations boast some of the largest living Christmas trees in the state, with over 500,000 holiday lights. Opening day for the Illuminations was Dec. 2, an event that typically attracts thousands of visitors.

The Ivoryton Village Alliance, which operates the light show, posted on its Facebook page that those who wanted to visit the Today show shoot could show up early Tuesday morning at the Ivoryton playhouse.

Other towns featured on the Today Show's Merriest Main Streets include Steubenville, Ohio and Georgetown, Colorado.

This isn't the first time that Essex has been recognized for its commitment to spreading holiday cheer. The town was recently named one of "The 30 Most Magical Christmas Towns in the U.S.," landing at No. 7 on the list by Country Living.

Essex was recognized for its wide variety of holiday activities, from riding the North Pole Express to an annual Holiday Train Show and its shopping options at the holiday village.

See related: CT Place Among 'Most Magical Christmas Towns In The U.S.'

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