Hometown Holiday Celebration Returns to Hackettstown Next Week

Bring out the evergreens, the garland, and the spirit of good cheer. The Hackettstown Business Improvement District (or HKTWN BID, for short) will be hosting a Hometown Holiday Celebration for the entire town.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 6. on the grounds of Centenary College and at the Main Street Business District.

Music, crafts and treats begin at 5 p.m. at Centenary Colleges Front Parlours of the Edward W. Seay Administration Building at 400 Jefferson Street.  Carriage rides come next.  

Long a crowd favorite, the horse-drawn carriage rides are held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Centenary’s front gates and continuing throughout the evening from the Moore Street Fire House. 

The Main Street District will be host to many musical groups including several bell choirs. The highlight is the 3rd annual Holiday Bazaar Tent, which features 2,400 square feet of shopping and dining for guests. 

Santa Claus will be lighting the Christmas tree, while participants can get a free holiday photo with the jolly old man (the photo can be picked up next week at the HKTWN BID offices at 219 Main Street.) New this year is a raffle for a boy's or girl's bicycle, HKTWN BID officials said in a release.

Here's a detailed schedule of the Hometown Holiday Celebration:

• 5:00 – 6:00 pm – Music, crafts and treats (Centenary, Seay Bldg.)
• 5:00 – 6:00 pm – Carriage Rides (Centenary, Seay Bldg. front gate pick up)
• 5:15 pm – Grand Illumination of Seay Building Centenary College
• 6:00 – 9:00 pm - Carriage Rides (Moore Street pick up)
• 6:00 – 9:00 pm – Holiday Bazaar Food and Shopping Tent

Vendors at the Holiday Bazaar include: 

C&L Subs n Grub, Mama’s Restaurant, Pandan Room, Philly Pretzel Factory, Stella G’s, The Grove, Skylands Community Pharmacy, Petals n' Pine and Precious Things, Centenary Stage-'A Christmas Carol’, Fur Love of Pawz, and the NORWESCAP Family Success Center.

• 6:00 – 6:30 pm – St. James Episcopal Church Bell Choir (Gazebo)
• 6:30 – 6:55 pm – Hackettstown Community Band (Gazebo)
• 6:30 – 7:00 pm – Littlest Angels Choir (Trinity)
• 6:45 – 7:15 pm – Colonial Musketeers Senior Corps (Hometown Hardware)
• 7:00 – 7:40 pm – Hackettstown High School Choir (Gazebo)
• 7:15 – 7:30 pm – Santa Parade with Tree Lighting and Caroling (Gazebo)
• 7:30 – 7:55 pm – Trinity United Methodist Church Bell Choir (Trinity)
• 7:45 – 8:15 pm – Stone Soup Symphony (Gazebo)
• 7:30 – 9:00 pm – Photos with Santa (Moore Street Fire House)
• 8:00 pm – Centenary Stage “A Christmas Carol” (Centenary, Lackland Center)