Students from township elementary schools sing Christmas carols during the 2023 tree lighting, something they will also do this year.
The township will host its annual Christmas tree lighting at the Deptford Recreation Center from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
The event will kick off with a brief speech by Mayor Paul Medany before he helps light the tree. The lighting will be held outdoors, depending on weather, and inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
“I’ll also officially pardon anyone who is on the naughty list,” the mayor joked. “It’s like a presidential pardon and the parents get a kick out of it. It’s a fun little tradition that we’ve been doing for years.”
The evening will include free framily attractions, including a wagon ride through the fields close to the recreation center. Santa will also be on hand to meet with kids, as will characters such as Buddy the Elf and the Grinch. A choir of students from township elementary schools will sing Christmas carols for attendees.
The event is one of the largest the township hosts throughout the year, with roughly a few hundred people expected to attend.
“It is always a successful event,” Medany said. “We’re expecting a good amount of people to come through for the event.”
The tree lighting is coordinated by the Deptford recreation and public works departments, whose duties include decorating and providing crafts.
“These folks put their all into it,” Medany said. “I can’t say enough about them; they do a fantastic job with everything and in all of the events that we do in Deptford.”
