Concord employee Tim Fallon wraps a pole on Thoreau Street in preparation for the town’s tree lighting and holiday celebration. Photo by Micah Luxen

It’s almost time to light up Concord for the holidays (includes treelighting map)

By Jennifer Lord Paluzzi  jenn@theconcordbridge.org
November 27, 2023

Quick! Go outside. Take a deep breath and close your eyes. 

There’s an aroma of pine in the air. A chill that hints toward snow. And are those… sleigh bells? 

The December holiday season is upon Concord, and the forecast calls for twinkle lights, candles, hot chocolate, candy canes and latkes. 

What’s a better place to start than downtown Concord? On December 3, Santa Claus himself will make his way down Main Street aboard one of Concord’s fire trucks to light the Town Tree. 

From 3 to 6 p.m., families will be making their way among the decorated storefronts and a variety of outdoor entertainments, culminating in the annual parade and tree lighting. 

In the mood for another tree lighting? Hanscom Air Force Base officials will host the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony December 4 at 4 p.m. outside the base chapel. The tree lighting will follow a parade through base housing, beginning at 3:15 p.m. and ending at the chapel.  

Access for off-base residents will be limited to only the Sartain Gate (located off Vandenburg Drive) and the tree lighting site at the chapel. Visitors to the base must present a valid driver’s license or state ID upon arriving at the gate. 

On December 9, it’s West Concord’s turn with the West Concord Holiday Stroll, 1 to 5 p.m. Meet both Santa and the Grinch, enjoy refreshments, warm up by a bonfire and shop around. 

While Chanukah begins at sundown on December 7, and ends the evening of December 15, Concord and Kerem Shalom will light the menorah on December 13 at Rideout Park, 5-6 p.m. There will be blessings, music, craft goody bags, and latkes from Debra’s Natural Gourmet.