The honorable Oxford Village Mayor, Terry Stark, will be dusting off his top hat for one of Oxford’s grandest events of the year, the holiday season kick-off.  You are invited to join the Mayor in LaFayette Park for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Sunday, November 30, at 5 p.m.

Gather at the heart of the Village, by the bandstand, as it’s the site of an old-fashioned community festivity of lights, music, roasted chestnuts, caroling, refreshments, joyous reveling, and perhaps even a few surprises!

The Oxford Holiday Committee (OHC), a nonprofit organization, has creatively designed and decorated the Park with a bright and dazzling display.  Come to see the spectacle of lights when they’re first lit.  The beautiful 12’, evergreen tree will be up and twinkling with lots of illuminated vignettes.  Be sure to also see the new sparkling lighted ornaments on the Oxford Main Street Bridge too!

Oxford Village Mayor Terry Stark will officiate the holiday spectacular and welcome in the holiday season.  After a couple of carols, he will announce the Oxford Academy Primary School award recipients of the eleventh annual “Recycled Holiday Ornament Contest”.  This contest is sponsored by the OHC as a way to encourage the local children to get involved in the decorating fun, be part of the ceremony, and learn the benefits of recycling.  Place prizes will include gift certificates to Big Blue’s, Mr. Chubb’s, and Hoppie’s.

Attention will be drawn to the ceremonious lighting of the big tree with a countdown.  With some young assistants from the Primary School, a large light switch will be pulled to turn on the lights.  Talented members of Oxford Academy’s High School chorus along with musicians will lead off with, “O Christmas Tree.”  Following that, spirited carols will fill the air by Oxford Girl Scouts, and student volunteers under the direction of the very talented Michael Moren and Corey Riley, accompanied by the Oxford United Church’s Praise Band. Printed lyrics will be distributed and everyone is encouraged to join in song.

Adding a little magic to this evening, the “jolly old elf himself,” Santa Claus, has been contacted at the North Pole, and he’s promised to visit Oxford.  Santa’s busy right now pressing his red velvet suit, combing his long white beard, and shining his big black boots to look his best when he arrives in LaFayette Park.  He will be waiting on a special park bench, amidst the twinkling lights, ready to listen to wishes from hopeful young ones. (Parents, bring your cameras!)

The OHC has been busy coordinating the community groups who volunteer to participate in this once-a-year event.  The refreshments, provided by the Girl Scouts, the Oxford Grange, and the Eastern Star will be on hand early.  There will be (literally) gallons of delicious hot cocoa and hot apple cider, hundreds of sweet home-made cookies, and dozens of minty candy canes.

DJ Jim Baldwin of the Oxford Lions Club will be back with his gingerbread house sound system, making speeches and music, clear and bright.

Weeks of volunteer planning and work by the Oxford Holiday Committee, generous donations by the community, and the purchase of raffle tickets for a table top Christmas tree with a wooden dinosaur (still available at Mr. Chubb’s and Hoppie’s), help to make the beautiful lighted display possible.  A big thank you goes out to all the community groups and individuals that help to make this Oxford festivity a success.

Don’t miss the official start of the holiday season with Oxford's annual “Holiday Tree Lighting on the Park”, Sunday, November 30, at 5:00 p.m.  Just as the glow of the lights radiate, so does the spirit of the season!

The printable (PDF) 2014 keepsake flyer is available on the OxfordNY.com website here: http://pon.oxfordny.com .

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