West Haven Green Christmas Tree Lighting Kicks Off Holiday Season

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — Santa and Mrs. Claus joined Mayor Dorinda Borer and her special guest, St. Lawrence School fourth grader Madeline Rivera, to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree during the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday, Nov. 29.

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 shouts of glee from hundreds of bundled-up merrymakers.

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

Before the lighting, Kim Kenny, the master of ceremonies, thanked and lauded Borer’s special guest as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.

Borer then lead revelers in a countdown before Madeline, 9, pushed down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.

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

The city’s official Christmas tree was adorned with light strands with multicolored LED bulbs, and the 5-acre Green was bedecked with new decorations and lights, including garland and large snowflakes on the John C. Ireland Bandstand and the Victorian lampposts.

The three-hour event opened with welcoming remarks by Borer and Kenny and followed with spirited performances by the West Haven High dance team, the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance and Top Hat Dance Academy, as well as a Grinch skit by West Haven High’s Theatre Workshop.

The dance team was directed by Lizz Petrakis, Mulkerin by Kathy Carew, Top Hat by Sharon Minnix and the theatre workshop by Christina Nolan.

The event was presented by the city and West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together and led by co-Chairs Rosella Crowley and Jaime Connellan.

DJ Bob DePascale, accompanied by daughter Ashley DePascale and grandson Dylan Walsh, played holiday-themed music while costumed Christmas characters Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman entertained families around the downtown park.

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

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

The festivities featured demonstrations by West Haven police K-9 Sgt. Thomas Marchitto and his police dog, Ado, as well as sing-alongs of Yuletide classics.

The evening of merriment also included an inflatable Santa’s village and craft stations where children decorated ornaments, wrote letters to Santa and made cards for patients at the West Haven VA Medical Center.

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

Food trucks — Louise’s Homemade Food & Baked Goods, Don Empanadas and Crave — sold eats and sweets, and volunteers from West Haven United sold hot chocolate and other refreshments.

A merry West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, center right, and Santa and Mrs. Claus cheer as St. Lawrence School fourth grader Madeline Rivera pushes down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree during the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday, Nov. 29. With them are members of the West Haven High School cheerleading team, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

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

DJ Bob DePascale, accompanied by daughter Ashley DePascale and grandson Dylan Walsh, all of West Haven, entertains the crowd with Christmas music. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Master of ceremonies Kim Kenny, right, chats with West Haven residents. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of Top Hat Dance Academy of West Haven perform. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of the West Haven High School Theatre Workshop bring the holiday spirit with Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven police K-9 Sgt. Thomas Marchitto and his police dog, Ado, put on a show for the crowd. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven United co-Chairs Jaime Connellan, holding microphone, and Rosella Crowley, right, thank the tree lighting’s many organizers and volunteers as Mayor Dorinda Borer and Kim Kenny, the master of ceremonies, look on. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer perform with members of the West Haven High School cheerleading team. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Santa Claus greets the crowd as Mrs. Claus and West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer smile. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

With Santa and Mrs. Claus looking on, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer introduces Madeline Rivera, 9, to the crowd moments before lighting the tree. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of the West Haven High School cheerleading team are all smiles with Rudolph while handing out stuffed animals to children. The stuffed animals were made possible by the West Haven Fire Department through a donation from PetSmart of Orange. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The Louise’s Homemade Food & Baked Goods truck serves hungry customers. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

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

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

Arianna Simeoli, 10, of West Haven, is all smiles with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their workshop. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The decorated John C. Ireland Bandstand on the West Haven Green boasts an inflatable Santa’s village. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Volunteers from West Haven United sell hot cocoa to keep merrymakers warm. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The lit-up West Haven 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.