Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony !

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  it was a bit brisk but Mayor Susan Knudsen showed no fear as she was hoisted up  the Village of Ridgewood Christmas tree in the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Annual Tree lighting  ceremony. Cheers erupted along the Central Business District as the tree came to life.  An overflow crowd gathered throughout East Ridgewood Avenue Friday evening to admire the dazzling decorations, enjoy the festivities ,browse vendors,and kick off the Christmas season at the annual Downtown for the Holidays . The Village of Ridgewood tree was a donation , cut and delivered by Downs Tree Service and the lights were donated by Daves Tree Service in Ridgewood.

 

A  pedestrian plaza was created by closing off  East Ridgewood Avenue from North Maple Avenue to Broad Street. The plaza featured an array of kids activities from Touch-a-Truck games, to selfies with the Grinch ,rides on a trackless train, and much more while Santa made the rounds in a golf cart stopping for a selfie for those eager to win favor. Trucks of all different shapes and sizes lined the street covered in Christmas lights . While  a Ridgewood police cruiser hauled away the Grinch in a cage.

On the East Side of the business district, School of Rock Waldwick performed holiday music in front of Bareburger while the band, Jamm, rocked out in Van Neste Square. The Ridgewood High School marching band, orchestra, and choirs made the rounds providing musical entertainment throughout the event.

Live “Toyland dancers” in their windows of several storefronts hoping to attract eager buyers. The Mt. Everest Ski Shop showed ski movies on a big inflatable projector screen on S. Walnut Street.

 

Kids circled around fire pits throughout Memorial Park and joined the Ridgewood Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 47 to roast marshmallows for s’mores; some even jumped around in a giant inflatable snow globe.

On the West Side of the business district, kids got the chance to meet the Elf on the Shelf, make sidewalk chalk art, and participate in other arts and crafts activities at the Kid’s Corner. Venture Studios offered free pictures with the lit tree as a backdrop for any interested parties.

If you couldn’t make it Scott Lief did a fantastic job hosting the Downtown for the Holidays TV broadcasting live on Facebook for the event   https://fb.watch/h9CQHAyOog/ sponsored by Steel Wheel Tavern.

The Ridgewood Chamber credited the event’s sponsors including Freedom Bank, Valley Health System, Columbia Bank, Redfin, School of Rock Waldwick, Visions, Park West Tavern, MacMurphy’s, Van Dyk’s, the Junkluggers, and ConnectOne Bank.