Pennington’s 33rd Holiday Walk will once again light up the center of town on Friday, Dec. 2. The Pennington tradition signals the start of the holiday season and brings together the community for a night of family-friendly festivities.
It’s all scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the arrival of Santa Claus at Howe Commons, 65 S. Main St. Santa will arrive just in time to light the tree. Hot chocolate, cider and holiday cookies will be served at the tree lighting, compliments of Pennington Bagel. There will also be some specialty food items provided by Camillo’s Restaurant, Chez Alice, The Place Family Eatery and Emily’s Café.
Holiday music will be played by Kids MusicRound with a performance by the Hopewell Valley Youth Chorale and the Timberlane Band. Next, dancers from DanceWorks of Mercer County will lead the parade along with the Hopewell Valley High School Band and accompanied by members of the Kidsbridge Club as Santa on his sleigh makes his way down Main Street to Sun Bank, where children will line up for their free photos with Santa, courtesy of Heather Raub of FrontRoom Images.
There will also be candid shots taken during the evening of the various events around town courtesy of Wayne Hollendonner of Double Exposure Photography.
Evening festivities will also include performances by The Hopewell Valley Children’s Theatre Group and the Pennington Studio for Dance & Creative arts, led by Dawn Berman. The Wallaby Traveling Tales, a beloved Holiday Walk tradition, is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the Pennington Library. It is a free activity, but space must be reserved ahead of time.
The Pennington Presbyterian Church will host the Washington Crossing Group of Revolutionary War re-enactors around the campfire. The Pennington Singers, a select vocal group from The Pennington School, will perform as well.
Another highlight of the evening will be John Goeke from Hopewell Valley Golf Club, who will be doing an ice carving on the grounds of the Sun Bank.
For teens, there are lots of activities planned for the the Youth Activity Center at the YMCA, 82 S. Main St., and the Teen Coffee House in Morrell Hall, at the Pennington Methodist Church, 60 S. Main St.
Some high school organizations and non-Main Street businesses will set up tables on Main Street providing cookies, cupcakes and holiday wares. Roving carolers made up of members of the First Baptist Church and the Hopewell Valley Central High School Choir will also be on hand.
Local stores and restaurants will keep their doors open throughout the evening for shopping, dining and holiday surprises.
This year local businesses have combined to donate to a holiday gift basket, which will be on display at Sun National Bank, 1 N. Main St. Those who qualify for the drawing by visiting various locations around town will be eligible to win the basket.
The Holiday Walk is sponsored by the Pennington Business and Professionals Association. Co-presidents are Wendy Rosen and Kevin Ryan. Vice president is Robert Hall. Secretary and Holiday Walk chair is Alisandra B. Carnevale. Treasurer is I. Lee Dickstein.
Santa Claus and a baby at last year’s Holiday Walk. (Photo by Heather Raub.),
