Downtown Westfield Neighborhood Association, in partnership with the City of Westfield, will bring the second annual tree-lighting festival to the downtown on Friday from 5:30pm – 8:30pm on North Union Street in Downtown Westfield. Located in the gathering area inaugurated by this summer’s Farmer’s Market, DWNA decided to move the event to one main location to increase safety for attendees and create a sense of familiar space for downtown events. Beginning in the late afternoon, North Union will be closed just North of Penn Street to just South of Catherine Street to accommodate foot traffic safety and carriage rides.
A 20-foot spruce tree will be planted on North Union in the month of November and dubbed as the City Tree for all future events. Any businesses or individuals interested in permanent naming rights to this living addition to the downtown can contact DWNA.
“Many wonderful partnerships and the community’s overall participation will make this another fantastic event for the City,” says Annie Poynter, Executive Director of DWNA.
Wendy Vivirito, founding chair of the event organizing her second year, comments: “The evening is all about bringing the community together to celebrate the beginning of the holiday and sharing their spirit with our downtown merchants and restaurants!”
Mayor Andy Cook will be judging the JoSheWe Gingerbread House Competition (open to the public at The Fern) and then conducting the annual tree-lighting at 7pm with one of Westfield’s awesome youth’s – Olivia Carpenter who will light up the tree for 2011!
Several other great family activities are planned:
- Historic Carriage Rides on North Union sponsored by Wittler Orthodontics, MaxIT and Duke Energy
- Indoor Winter Market at Christ United Methodist Church with 34 craft vendors
- Westfield Friends Living Nativity in Hadley Park
- Gingerbread House competition by the JoSheWe Girl Scouts at The Fern
- Mr & Mrs. Claus at the Santa House with photos by the Westfield Rotary Club
- Merchant Light Competition sponsored by the “Westfield In Bloom” Committee
- Local nonprofit organization sponsored planters on Main Street (Hwy 32)
- Fire Pits sponsored by various community groups
- Bows to decorate the City tree provided by Westfield High School Band
- Boy Scouts canned food drive
- Amanda Strong drop off location
- Carolers and dance performances by local ballet studios
The community is invited to come out that evening, support our local downtown shops & restaurants and help light up the downtown for the holidays.