In this week’s Mayor’s Message, Mayor Louis Manzo talks about the upcoming Lights on Main event.
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already upon us. Your township committee wishes you and your family a happy, healthy and safe holiday weekend. As a community, we know how to kick off the holiday season in style with our signature event…Lights on Main!
No one does it better than Mullica Hill when it comes to ringing in the holidays and, as always, this year’s event takes place on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, starting at 5 p.m. Remember: Main Street will be closed down from Woodland Avenue to Folwell Lane from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with shuttle buses running constantly on the north end from The Amish Market, In The Village [Plaza] and [Harrison] Elementary School, and on the south end from the Municipal Building, Ella Harris Park and Chianti parking lot.
This year’s event will include all the favorite things you’ve come to expect, like horse carriage rides on both the north and south end of the street, holiday movies in Nancy Kowalik Realty Group’s parking lot, Gingerbread Man decorating in front of Cherry on Top, ornament painting at the Mullica Hill Art Center, food vendors (more than in the past!) up and down the street and tons of “light-ups” for the kids including wands, hats and jewelry. Blueplate’s parking lot transforms into Tavern Blue for some holiday cheer and the entertainment lasts all night on the main stage at Old Town Hall and the additional stage in Naples parking lot for their “Rock the Warehouse” festivities. We want to thank Inspira Health Network for their sponsorship of these entertainment activities.
Some new additions include the Christmas Village on the bridge near the Old Mill, featuring multiple crafters and the North Pole-Santa’s Workshop in the historic Farmer’s National Bank building. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for visits and pictures. Since Lights on Main draws such a crowd, getting Santa to the tree for the lighting would actually require flying reindeer. Maybe next year? This year, bring the kids to the North Pole location anytime during the event and we promise to light the tree at exactly 7:15 p.m., as scheduled.
Most of you have heard of Robins’ Nest and their great work providing family services in the region. Take the opportunity to help their Santa’s Workshop program this year by bringing a new, unwrapped toy with you to Lights on Main. There will be Robins’ Nest Santa’s Workshop drop-boxes located at Old Town Hall and Harmony Fire House. Let’s fill them up!
A special thanks to the Harrison Township Recreation Commission volunteers that make this occasion the envy of all others, voted the best event in the county five years running. Their activity and location map is being sent home through the schools and maps will be handed out by elves on the street that night or print one out from the township website homepage yourself.
So, the stage is perfectly set to welcome the most wonderful time of the year…almost. Should we say it? Let it snow! Lightly.
