North Windham businesses are expected to be busier than normal next Friday, when the town’s tree-lighting ceremony returns to the North Windham Shopping Center.

“We used to host a tree lighting every year, but the past couple of years we haven’t done it, so we decided to bring it back,” said Aimee Senatore, executive director of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the event.

Senatore said the tree-lighting ceremony is likely to benefit the businesses in that plaza because it is expected to draw a few hundred people. Businesses “are so excited about it,” she said.

The ceremony, led by town officials, returns to the plaza after a five-year hiatus due to lack of volunteers and participation from business owners. Next Friday, Dec. 4, it will take place at 6:30 p.m. at an evergreen tree in front of Busy Bee Laundromat in the shopping center.

“We focused a lot of our energy in the past couple of years on a local shopping campaign called ‘Shop, Eat, Save,’ and we had some different events garnered around that,” said Senatore.

“There were other tree lightings that were taking place in the community,” she added. “One of our options was to light a tree that is behind our office. It just wasn’t an ideal scenario.”

So this year, Senatore got an early start on planning. She approached all of the businesses in the North Windham Shopping Center, along with George Bartlett, the owner of the Busy Bee laundry, who is an active chamber member, to take part in the ceremony.

“Basically, what we decided to do was to not only have a tree lighting, but to (also) celebrate National Cookie Day,” she said. “We asked all of the shops, from Bomb Diggity to Windham Jewelers, if they would provide a variation of different cookies and open their doors that night for all the people that come to the tree lighting, decorate for Christmas, and maybe have a special sale. And they were all on board,” Senatore said.

The chamber will offer concessions, such as coffee and hot cocoa. There will also be Christmas music and possibly a visit from Santa Claus, Senatore said. The event runs from 6-8 p.m.

Senatore said the chamber encourages attendees to check out the local businesses, meet the owners, eat cookies, do some Christmas shopping, and spend a few minutes warming up.

“The real value in it, is somehow incorporating the businesses into the event, and that’s why we are bringing it back to the plaza,” Senatore said.

According to Senatore, the North Windham Shopping Center is an ideal location for the tree lighting because of the ample parking, a decent-sized tree, and the number of businesses that are open past 5 p.m.

“Some of the businesses are going to stay open a little later that day for us,” she said. “Choosing that plaza was mainly because that’s where it historically happened five-plus years ago. The businesses are really supportive there, and it’s very central.

“We are trying to push an activity that will also get people into the local businesses,” Senatore added.

Another tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled to be held in front of the Windham Public Safety Building on Route 202, Sunday, Nov. 29, from 5-7 p.m. The tree will be lit at 5:30 p.m., according to Windham Parks and Recreation Director Linda Brooks.

Beginning at 5 p.m., music will be provided by a third-grade chorus group from Windham Primary School, as well as a local musician, Doug Elder. There will also be opportunities for families to take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Refreshments, including hot cocoa, will also be provided.

Brooks said the town encourages attendees to bring non-perishable food items and canned goods to donate to the Windham Food Pantry, located next to the public safety building, to include in food baskets distributed to families in need for Christmas. Due to limited parking, Brooks also encourages people to carpool to the event.

“We decided last year that with the decorations that the town has put up, and this nice big tree in front of the public safety building made the perfect place for a tree-lighting ceremony,” said Town Manager Tony Plante.

While the ceremony in North Windham aims to attract people to businesses, both lighting ceremonies focus on bringing the community together, said Brooks, who became recreation director in June.

“I think it’s important this time of year, and any time of year, to have community events,” she said. “People should bring their cameras and voices to join in on the caroling. It should be a good way to kick off the holiday season.”

Copy the Story Link