The tree at Library Point was illuminated with Christmas lights, a borough tradition that this year included special shopping hours for Black Friday.
Haddonfield’s annual tradition of lighting the holiday tree at Library Point drew hundreds of residents on a frigid day that coincided with Black Friday and the start of the Christmas shopping season.
Borough streets were filled with shoppers strolling the downtown area who took advantage of candlelight sale hours. Hundreds of people convened in front of the library and along Tanner Street, where a long line formed for free hot chocolate. Many crowded together at optimal spots to view the large pine tree adorned with lights.
Before the lighting, holiday music could be heard from the library. A brief introduction ceremony followed to remind guests of food donation dropoff locations in town.
Mayor Dave Siedell welcomed the crowd, evoking the holiday sentiment of “the most wonderful time of the year” and encouraging support for local stores on Small Business Saturday the following day.
“Hopefully, although you feel cold, you’re warm inside,” he said. “The thing about a downtown like Haddonfield is, it’s about the downtown. It’s the charm, it’s the Colonial nature of it. It’s things you can’t get at Amazon and you can’t get at a box store chain or at the mall.”
Borough commissioners Frank Troy and Itir Cole briefly greeted residents before the high-school choir’s performance of “Jingle Bells.” Cole brought her two young sons to the lighting.
“Haddonfield is now open for Christmas, and if you listen you might start to hear the bells jing-a-jing,” noted Siedell as he gestured down the road to a convertible on Tanner Street that held Santa and Mrs. Claus. Their motorcade continued onto Kings Highway and eventually stopped at Kings Court so families could get photos with the man in red.
Santa made his way to the Kings Court gazebo, where he was set up for pictures and to hear the Christmas wishes of children. A number of borough businesses finished the day with extended hours to kick off one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
