The holiday spirit was shining bright on a clear, cold night in late November in downtown Haddonfield, during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Library Point, which kicked off the holiday shopping season. Revelers filled the streets from Pennypacker Park all the way down Tanner Street and along Kings Highway.
The ceremony featured holiday music and hot chocolate, presentations by Mayor David Seidel, the Borough of Haddonfield Commissioners, and the Haddonfield Memorial High School Choir. After the ceremony, Santa and Mrs. Claus, hosted by the Partnership for Haddonfield and led by the high school’s marching band, were escorted down the streets of town in a convertible to the gazebo at Kings Court for photos and candy canes, and the opportunity for kids to tell Santa their holiday wishes.
The event, which attracted hundreds of spectators, has been a tradition in the community since at least 1938, and is organized by the Haddonfield Celebrations Association, which also sponsors the annual Halloween parade and July 4th festivities.
Attendees were also encouraged to donate canned goods for distribution at a local food bank at the Haddonfield Lutheran Church.
“It’s always a nice celebration and a great way to start the holiday season,” says Ken Tomlinson, president of the Haddonfield Celebrations Association. “One thing that we always strive for in putting together these events is developing a sense of community. When we started sponsoring the tree lighting ceremony, the idea was to bring people to downtown Haddonfield to shop and support our local businesses. Today, it’s become a tradition that many people in the community enjoy.”
The Friday after Thanksgiving also serves as the official start of candlelight shopping in downtown Haddonfield. From November 28th through December 19th, stores stayed open late and carolers and live music filled the night air; while roaming entertainers, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch wandered through the candlelit streets of the business district to greet shoppers and pose for photos.
“We were honored to be asked to participate in the annual tree lighting festivities again this year,” says Joe Muldoon, chef and owner of Haddon Culinary, which supplied the hot cocoa for attendees. “We’re happy to support the town at events like this because that community connection is what makes Haddonfield so special and unique all year round.”
Muldoon brought his two young daughters to the event for the first time and said they enjoyed the event immensely. “The festive and fun event gets everyone into the holiday spirit,” he says. “Haddonfield is such a quintessential town for events like these, where everybody can come out and enjoy the festivities while supporting local merchants and each other.”
Haddon Culinary, which took over the space of the former Ludovico’s, is a chef-driven gourmet market featuring casual dining and catering and offers a wide variety of seasonal treats in its downtown location on Kings Highway.
“It’s an old town with a lot of history, and we’re happy to be a part of helping people in our community feel the magic of the holiday season,” says Muldoon. “Haddonfield is so unique and special all year round, but especially so during this time of year.”
