Everything is nearly set for Sandy Main Street’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony — lights are on the tree, arrangements are made and wintry weather has blown in. All that’s left is to wait for Dec. 5 to roll around.
At 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, community members are invited to bundle up and bring their families to Sandy’s Centennial Plaza, at the corner of Pioneer Boulevard and Hoffman Avenue to see Sandy’s biggest Christmas tree light up downtown.
D.J. Anderson will emcee the event, and Mayor Bill King will lead the countdown to lighting the tree.
For Jennifer Marks, who joined the Sandy Main Street team in September, this is her first experience with Sandy’s annual tree lighting.
“Everyone’s been really awesome to work with,” Marks said. She added that because the event is so well known around the community, there has been no shortage of businesses wanting to donate to the event or “wanting to be a part of it in general.”
Along with caroling, cookies are one of the headline attractions.
Tollgate Inn has again donated edible gingerbread men and Busy Bee Catering has added sugar cookies to the mix.
Although it can’t be said for sure what the weather will do, warm drinks will be served to help participants keep warm. Hot tea, donated by Chariteas, hot cocoa, donated by Starbucks, and coffee, donated by Mountain Moka, will be served.
In addition, AntFarm has donated eggnog.
The Sandy Historical Museum, which overlooks Centennial Plaza, will host an open house during the ceremony for attendees to come in out of the cold. The museum is offering hot apple cider, music and a craft for children.
This year, Sandy Main Street will collect non-perishables for the Sandy High School Leadership Class’s canned food drive for the Sandy Kiwanis Club’s Community Christmas Baskets.
“Sandy Main Street really wanted to focus on community collaboration this year,” Marks said. She added Main Street has decided to join in with SHS Leadership and Sandy Kiwanis to help with their holiday programs.
Sandy Main Street asks ceremony attendees to bring a donation of canned food to be turned in upon their arrival.
A donation jar also will be passed around for those wishing to donate money to the Christmas Baskets program.
There also will be collection bins available at participating downtown locations, including AntFarm, Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce, Clackamas County Bank, The UPS Store, Positive Touch Chiropractic, City Hall, Sandy Public Library and Sandy Historical Museum, Monday, Dec. 1, through Monday, Dec. 15.
Originally Published in Sandy Post
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