​Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Newtown: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

NEWTOWN, PA — There are plenty of things going on around Newtown to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

Menorah lightings in Newtown are:

• Lubavitch of Bucks County will hold a Family Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 10 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Glazier Jewish Center, 25 North State Street, Newtown. The event will feature a grand outdoor menorah lighting, a gelt drop, a buffet dinner, art in the pod dreidel painting, a glass blowing menorah presentation, and Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein's 50th birthday. RSVP required.

Christmas tree lightings include:

• Santa will light Newtown's tree and then listen to wishes from youngsters on Friday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot next to the Newtown Fire Station at Liberty Street and Washington Avenue. There will be live music and refreshments. Santa is scheduled to arrive around 7 p.m.

Christmas parades, often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands, are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Parades in the Newtown area may not be able to match that in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• The NBA and McCaffrey's Market Newtown Holiday Parade steps off at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3 from the Stocking Works on South State Street. The parade will then march north on State Street to Washington, west on Washington to Sycamore and then north on Sycamore to Durham Road where it will disband. The event is organized by the Newtown Business Association.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Pennsylvania are:

• Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show, open nightly from now through January 7. The farm is located at 931 Stony Hill Road in Yardley. To order tickets and for information, visit shadybrookfarm.com.