West Haven Green Christmas Tree Lighting Kicks Off Holiday Season

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — Santa and Mrs. Claus accompanied Mayor Dorinda Borer and her special guest, Carrigan Intermediate School fifth grader Shyann Jones, to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday, Nov. 30.

After arriving in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to a portable stage on the Main Street side of the Green by the West Haven High School cheerleading team to chants of “Here We Go, Santa, Here We Go!” and shouts of glee from hundreds of bundled-up merrymakers.

The stage was bedecked with giant presents that lit up each side.

Before the lighting, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, thanked and praised Borer’s special guest as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.

Borer then lead revelers in a countdown before Santa helped 10-year-old Shyann push down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.

The three-hour holiday event opened with the national anthem sung by West Haven’s own Grace Kelly Nowak and followed with performances by the West Haven High School dance team, keyboardist Thomas Ice, the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance and Top Hat Dance Academy. The dance team was directed by Lizz Petrakis, Mulkerin by Kathy Carew and Top Hat by Sharon Minnix.

It featured performances by West Haven’s own Judy Pancoast, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, who led the crowd in sing-alongs of holiday classics, including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

The event was presented by the city and West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together.

The Yuletide festivities included costumed Christmas characters Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman entertaining families around the downtown park.

Youngsters received stuffed animals from the West Haven Fire Department through a donation from PetSmart of Orange.

Along with hayrides, kids were also treated to rides on the Roaming Railroad.

While the rides were free, people brought nonperishable items for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, which provides food for residents in need.

The evening of merriment also included five stations on the 5-acre Green, where children decorated ornaments, wrote letters to Santa, and made cards for U.S. troops overseas and those at the West Haven VA Medical Center.

Kids also helped decorate a holiday banner that will hang on the third floor of City Hall.

At each station, volunteers from West Haven United stamped children’s holiday “passports.” Kids had to complete all five activities and return their stamped passports to the organization’s tent for a chance to win the prize basket.

Just steps from Santa’s workshop, boys and girls dropped off wish lists at St. Nick’s official U.S. Postal Service mailbox.

Before their long sleigh ride back to the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children and posed for photos.

West Haven United sold hot chocolate and snacks.

The city’s official Christmas tree was adorned with light strands with multicolored LED bulbs, and the Green was bedecked with new decorations and lights, including garland and large snowflakes on The John C. Ireland Bandstand and the Victorian lampposts.

An exuberant West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, holding microphone, reacts as Santa Claus helps Carrigan Intermediate School fifth grader Shyann Jones push down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday, Nov. 30. With them are, from left, West Haven United co-Chair Jaime Connellan and Mrs. Claus. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The glowing West Haven Green Christmas Tree. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The festive John C. Ireland Bandstand on the West Haven Green. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

From left, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman join the West Haven High School dance team, Mayor Dorinda Borer and WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, for some holiday fun. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven’s own Grace Kelly Nowak opens the holiday festivities by singing a magical rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Mayor Dorinda Borer and master of ceremonies Brian Smith put their right hands over their hearts. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the West Haven High School cheerleading team bring the holiday spirit. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of the West Haven High School dance team perform a holiday classic. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Keyboardist Thomas Ice entertains the crowd with Christmas music. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven resident Cheyenne Salamacha helps her daughter, Hayden, 4, decorate an ornament. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven’s Moore-Torres sisters, Ana, 5, and Lily, 8, show their stuffed animals while writing letters to Santa. The sisters received the stuffed animals from the West Haven Fire Department through a donation from PetSmart of Orange. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Ethan Kubicko of the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance of West Haven, left, leads children in a Celtic holiday dance. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of Top Hat Dance Academy of West Haven perform to “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.” (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven’s own Judy Pancoast, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, leads the crowd in sing-alongs of holiday nuggets, including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman join in. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive to the Green in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, driven by retired West Haven fire Inspector Robert Abate. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, with microphone in tow, jokes with Santa as, from left, Mrs. Claus, West Haven High School cheerleaders, and West Haven United co-Chairs Rosella Crowley and Jaime Connellan look on. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven’s Henninger siblings, Nicholas, 10, Luke, 7, and Viola, 7, are all smiles with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their workshop on the Green. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The West Haven Green Christmas Tree is adorned with light strands with multicolored LED bulbs, while the downtown park is bedecked with new decorations and lights, including large snowflakes on the Victorian lampposts and The John C. Ireland Bandstand, background. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Families enjoy a hayride around the decorated Green. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Parents and children ride the Roaming Railroad around the 5-acre Green. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.