The town's longest running holiday event - the lighting of a tree (which became the lighting of two trees a few years ago) at Ram Pasture - will again open a weekend of holiday events in Newtown.

The 32nd Annual Ram Pasture Tree Lighting event is scheduled for Friday, December 2. All ages are invited to the corner of Elm Drive and Hawley Lane for festivities that will include performances, the arrival of Santa and Mrs Claus, light refreshments, and the lighting of a pair of trees to symbolically welcome the holiday season.

The event will begin at 6:30 pm.

Former Superintendent of Schools Dr John Reed has been invited to take care of the honor of flipping the switch to light the trees this year.

Guests on December 2 will enjoy performances by students of Ashurst School of Irish Dance and Lathrop School of Dance; The XY Chromotones, an a cappella group of Newtown High School singers; and members of the NHS Chorus.

Cider will be provided by People's United Bank, and cookies will be coming from Union Savings Bank, according to Newtown Chamber of Commerce Acting Office Manager Renia Marini. The chamber is a co-sponsor of Ram Pasture's tree lighting celebration.

Luminaria boxes are being distributed to home and property owners along Main Street, Sugar Street, Glover Avenue, and Elm Drive. Designed to look like white bags, with cutouts of pine trees, the luminaria boxes have again been donated for the tree lighting by Curtis Packaging, Ms Marini said November 18.

"Parks & Rec is co-sponsoring this year's event," she added. "Public Works and Kesco Electric have been working on the tree lights and light stringing, and the Sustainable Energy Commission has contributed some of the lights for the larger of the two trees at Ram Pasture."

While the event is being co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Parks & Recreation, donations are also accepted to help offset the cost of materials.

Donations of $10 are being accepted, to sponsor a Christmas Tree Bulb or Luminaria (see coupon). Sponsorships are also available, ranging from $150 to $1,000.

For additional information about donations contact Newtown Chamber of Commerce at 203-426-2695 or visit newtown-ct.com.

Road Closure Note

Those planning to attend the Ram Pasture Tree Lighting should note that police traditionally impose temporary road closures and parking bans in the vicinity of Ram Pasture, in order to protect pedestrians.

The half-mile section of Elm Drive lying between its intersections with Sugar Street and Borough Lane is usually closed to traffic, as is Hawley Road. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed to use those road sections.

Also, areas that will have parking bans for a the three-hour period include South Main Street between Borough Lane and Glover Avenue; Sugar Street between South Main Street and Elm Drive; and the driveway that connects Sugar Street to Town Hall South (3 Main Street).