Milton turns on the holiday lights

By Ally Turk
Posted 12/11/19

The Hamlet of Milton is all decorated for the holidays.

The annual tree lighting and the Sarah Hull Hallock Library open house took place on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This was the 7th …

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Milton turns on the holiday lights

Posted

The Hamlet of Milton is all decorated for the holidays.

The annual tree lighting and the Sarah Hull Hallock Library open house took place on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This was the 7th consecutive year that the Hamlet of Milton Association put on the tree lighting.

The tree lighting took place along Main Street, with the tree being placed directly across the street from Sarah Hull Hallock Library. Members of the town were all along the street’s sidewalks, enjoying snacks that were put out, along with some local mulled wine.

The main reason for the tree lighting is, of course, to decorate and light the tree. Decorating started taking place at 2 p.m. and was about done by 3 p.m. One of the stations set up next to the tree was a “create your own ornament” station. There were small round tree stump disks, along with different colored markers. People in attendance could write their name on a disk, tie a string around it, and then hang it on the tree.

Also outside, adults talked and laughed while kids danced to the live D.J. And once the foam machine was brought out, there was no stopping the kids. The foam machine was made to blow out small bubbly foam bits, to imitate snow.

While the party was continuing outside, there was a group of kids and adults inside enjoying the library’s open house and Mrs. Claus magic show. During the show there were refreshments put out including cookies and mini cupcakes, and there was also pine cone decorating to bring home and hang on their own tree.

Mrs. Claus made sure to include almost every child at the show, and made sure to tell everyone that they would make great elves. For one of her first tricks, Mrs. Claus put a random snoopy character away into a folder, and had some children pick different Snoopy characters, and the character that was not picked was revealed to be the very same that Mrs. Claus hid away in the folder. Soon after, Mrs. Claus gave three children white halos and a different colored handkerchief. When the kids put the handkerchief and halo into a sleeve, the halo changed color once it was pulled out to match its handkerchief.

For some people, like Anna Lobdell, this was their first time at the event.

“I’m loving it,” Lobdell said. “It’s adorable. I’ve lived here for 56 years, and I love seeing everyone in this small little town get together and enjoy themselves like this.”

For most, however, this is a special part of their holiday traditions that they don’t ever miss.

“I’ve been here for as long as they’ve been having it,” Phil Giansante said. “I look forward to the community spirit during this time of year, when we usually don’t have a chance to see each other because we’re staying inside away from the cold.”