Amherst to host holiday festival

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009

By DEAN SHALHOUP Staff Writer

AMHERST – Some decades ago, legend has it, kids of all ages woke up on the second Sunday in December knowing exactly what they were going to do that day: head down to the Village Green to greet jolly old St. Nick and help him officially kick off the holiday season in town.

But Souhegan Valley Decembers being what they are, Santa and his greeters sometimes had to brave bone-chilling temperatures, ice and snow that also kept some would-be celebrants at home.

So in true small-town spirit, people got together and volunteered to call Santa and see if he’d mind holding his annual party inside, perhaps in a large venue like the fire station. The jolly old elf agreed, and soon dawned a new era in an ages-old town tradition.

Now, with a little snow finally on the ground and the air taking on a crisp, holiday-season feel, the timing is perfect for this year’s Amherst Tree Lighting Festival, which takes place on Sunday starting with firefighter-hosted pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. and running through an evening choral concert at Souhegan High School.

As always, the day-long schedule of events is centered around what longtime committee chairman Ann Bergin calls “the climactic 5 p.m. tree lighting ceremony.” The ceremonial tree, which is on the World War I common across from Moulton’s market, is dedicated to Richard Crocker, the former deputy fire chief and public works director who Bergin called one of the event’s most reliable and enthusiastic supporters.

After the switch is thrown and the cheers subside, a series of songs and readings about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice and the First Snow take place at a different venue — the front steps of Clark School.

“We welcome a celebration of all the holidays that take place from December 1 through January 6,” Bergin said. “Our intent has always been to bring everyone together where they can celebrate the season and any holiday they choose.”

Though that philosophy had appeared to work out just fine for a number of years, it was forced to withstand an intense, town-wide debate in 2006 when 42 residents signed a petition asking town officials to acknowledge that the tree is a Christmas tree and refer to the event as a “Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.”

The issue came to a head at the 2006 Town Deliberative Session, dominating five hours of debate among more than 100 residents. Eventually, residents overwhelmingly approved an amendment that essentially rendered the proposal moot.

As for this year, Bergin said the tree-lighting events were moved to Clark School because time has taken its toll on the aging wood-frame reviewing stand, which she said Crocker graciously built for the occasion some 25 years ago. “It’s pretty worn out, and we don’t want to take a chance with safety,” she said.

For those looking for a snack and the warmth of hot cocoa, you’ll get it with a smile from members of Team Earley, which will be stationed at the Congregational Church from 2-4 p.m.

Team Earley is a Boston Marathon team formed by Greg Earley last year to benefit the Melanoma Foundation of New England after his wife, Kathy, was diagnosed with melanoma, a form of cancer, in August 2007.

Team members will be providing the goodies as a community-wide show of gratitude for their many supporters over the past two years, said Kathy Earley, who’s now considered a cancer survivor.

“We have been the recipients of (the community’s) good will, not only with our fundraising for the Melanoma Foundation, but also for all the well wishes, offers to prepare meals, drive children to activities, share a laugh, or send positive thoughts our way,” Earley said.

“Please ... stop by so we may thank you,” she added. “We are very blessed to be part of such a caring, supportive community.”

For Bergin, meanwhile, her festival involvement goes back nearly four decades, since just after she and her family relocated to Amherst. “I know this was going on before I got here,” she said this week. “I’m not sure when, but I believe it started with Santa visiting children on the Village Green. I guess it got a little cold out there sometimes, so eventually Santa moved indoors.”

Bergin fondly recalls some of her first years on the committee, when homeowners in the Village, especially newcomers, asked her if there was a law or ordinance requiring them to display only white lights on their houses. “I really don’t think anyone would have minded if there was (such a law),” she said, “but I assured them there wasn’t.”

Holiday lights are, however, central to a long-standing town tradition that seems to be gathering more followers each year, Bergin said. “It’s become tradition among many residents to not turn on their (holiday) lights until the night of the festival tree lighting,” she said. “Some even wait until that day to put them up.”

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 31, or dshalhoup@cabinet.com.