Tree lighting shifts to healthier tree

This month’s tree lighting ceremony will be a little different from years past, with a new tree and a new date.
Due to the poor health of the fir located to the west of Station on the Green, which has been lit in past years, event organizers have decided to light a tree on the east side.
Arbourist Liz Smith, a member of the Tree Society of Creemore, said the other tree is becoming more and more sparse, and is slowly dying. “It’s a shame because it was donated,” she said.
The tree has been identified as one the trees to be removed during the Village Green construction.
Regardless, said Tree Society member Mary Boyd, it was the intention of organizers to revitalize and improve on the event this year and to use a different tree.
Traditionally, the tree lighting has been held on the eve of the Santa Claus Parade. This year, it will move ahead one week to Friday, Nov. 29, so not to conflict with other holiday events.
The event is a community effort, with Creemore and Area Residents Association (CARA) sharing the cost with the Tree Society. As usual, CARA will serve hotdogs, there will be a hat contest with prizes provided by Cardboard Castles Children’s Emporium.
The Station, Creemore BIA and Clearview Township have chipped in money towards new lights. Boyd said there is a plan to cover the new tree with 15,000 tiny soft white lights, with white floodlights trained on the other trees in the cluster.
Darci-que has volunteered to do the decor based on the theme, The Creemore Express, inspired by the Polar Express movie, and all children will be given a bell.
Miller’s Dairy provides a haywagon for a stage, which will be moved to the south side of the building for easier access to the power supply. There will be a community carol sing and Emily Fischl will be signing.
Creemore Home Hardware has helped get them a good price on lights and extension cords.
Volunteer firefighters will be putting up the lights and taking them down again in the spring.
The event, made possible through much community collaboration, begins at 6:30 p.m., and organizers will be collecting canned goods for the Clearview and Stayner Food Bank.