Brian Slattery Photos
A clear night and seasonal chill in the air brought the crowds for New Haven’s annual tree lighting on the Green Thursday night.
By 5:30 p.m. — two hours before the official lighting — the Green was already bustling with families, making long lines for Ferris wheel rides and keeping the Free Public Library’s bookmobile hopping.
The line for a visit to Santa snaked by New Haven’s venerable churches on the Green.
On the bandstand, Alliance Children’s Theatre was one of several groups who charmed the growing crowd with seasonal songs. For its part, Alliance serenaded its audience with choreographed Christmas carols and offered a little taste of its upcoming production of “A Christmas Carol,” based on the Charles Dickens classic.
The CT Telemundo tent — which was a partner in producing the televised segment of the tree lighting — proved a hit by handing out luminescent maracas, which could be seen in the hands of many a child throughout the evening.
The food trucks parked along Temple Street, offering pulled pork to fried dough and cocoa to cupcakes, enjoyed steady business throughout the evening, with many customers taking advantage of the tables and chairs set up along the curb to eat outdoors in a civilized manner, despite the cold.
The Parks Department’s truck-drawn sleigh ride had no trouble finding riders.
Smaller kids could not only visit sheep and a very calm llama, but also engage in crafts activities provided by the Parks Department’s after-school program.
At the south end of the Green, a carousel and whirling teacups delighted kids and adults with strong stomachs who were eager to take a spin.
Contributed Photo
Meanwhile, community groups used the opportunity to plug their campaigns. This polar bear, for instance, put out the word about the Elm City Conservancy’s annual New Year’s Day charitable “Plunge For Parks” at Lighthouse Point.
As 7:30 p.m. approached, the crowd reached its peak, and all eyes turned toward the bandstand, where news anchors hyped the crowd and city officials including Mayor Toni Harp, who offered thoughts on what the celebration meant to her.
“It means that we treat each other with kindness, that we are a community that continues to give to one another,” she said, “and I am so thrilled that we are out here ringing in this holiday season.”
A quick countdown commenced, and the tree in the middle of the Green lit up with color to cheers and flashing phones.
The crowd stayed for a time afterward to take pictures and simply enjoy the evening.
After all, the Ferris wheel, carousel, and teacups were still spinning. The food trucks were still there. Singing groups were still caroling from the bandstand. The Parks Department’s sleigh ride was still making its circuit around the Green. As the truck rounded the corner of the Green at Church and Elm, a couple men sitting in the back spontaneously burst into “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” singing at the tops of their lungs.
New Haven rocks. And has the most beautiful Christmas tree anywhere, year after year.