Santa, s’mores and more: Hundreds gather in Allentown for tree-lighting ceremony

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lynne Morse went to the city’s Saturday evening tree lighting by accident.

“We came to see ‘The Nutcracker’ and heard the music,” said Morse, of Delaware, who was in the city to visit friends and see the performance at Miller Symphony Hall. “And then I saw the s’mores, and they just beckoned.”

The Downtown Allentown Business Alliance, the Allentown Chamber of Commerce and other officials on Saturday evening hosted the city’s annual holiday tree lighting at the Arts Park, 20 N. Fifth St. Hundreds gathered for the free event, which included hot cocoa and s’mores-making, horse-drawn carriage rides, vendors and photos with Santa.

“We’re spreading holiday cheer today, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Maggie Walters, vice president of the Allentown Chamber of Commerce. “ … We have some really fun surprises in store for you tonight, so just enjoy the vendors, the food, the hot chocolate - we have some performances coming up.

“Happy holidays, Downtown Allentown.”
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Allentown is the last of the Valley’s major cities to hold a lighting this season, with Bethlehem’s tree lighting the day after Thanksgiving, followed by Easton’s annual lighting of its iconic Peace Candle. However, there are still a handful of upcoming holiday tree lightings.

“We’re spreading holiday cheer today, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Maggie Walters, Allentown Chamber of Commerce.

The park started to fill a little before the event’s 4 p.m. start time, as residents and visitors roasted s’mores, visited vendors and took photos of the mammoth tree. Covered in baubles, the tree also featured paper ornaments decorated by local students.

A city resident for a decade, it was Sergio Lema’s first time attending the tree lighting with his family, including two children.

“We’ve lived here for 10 years, but it’s always too cold to come out,” Lema said. “But now the kids can enjoy it, too.”

He looked at his baby son, bundled up in a stroller and smiled, adding, “And it’s his first Christmas.”

About an hour later, the sounds of sirens pierced through the park as a city fire truck escorted Santa to the stage set up on Fifth Street. The park was full of people, eager to take pictures and videos, as Santa, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms mascot, MeLVin, and other city officials gathered.

A bucket truck from PPL, one of the sponsors of the event, hoisted an official near the top of the towering tree before the crowd began to count down from five.

At the end of the count, the warm lights came to life on the towering tree, as well as the star placed at its top, and the crowd cheered.