(Nov. 24, 2016) Berlin’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony serves as the kickoff to the holiday season in town and that is how it will be this year, as regular carriage rides will begin, along with visits from Santa and a Main Street decorated for the occasion.
This year, Patty Falck of Ta Da decorated the official town tree, which will stand unlit on the patio of the Atlantic Hotel until Mayor Gee Williams throws the switch on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Casino at Ocean Downs will sponsor the return of ice artist Erik Cantine, who will provide ice sculpture demonstrations. As a new feature this year, the town will also offer an interactive, ice sculpted corn-hole board.
Carriage rides will start downtown during the event, and the town will sponsor free rides during weekends in December from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.
Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the tree lighting generally draws upwards of 1,000 people.
Several-dozen downtown shops will be open for business, many of which are offering special sales, unveiling new product lines, and/or hosting holiday charity drives. About 10 downtown restaurants and coffee shops will also be open during the event, which runs until about 8 p.m.
Wells said shopping in Berlin is unique, because many of the items found in the stores are literally one of a kind.
“When you come down to shop in Berlin, a lot of the gifts that you can purchase here are actually made in Berlin. Berlin is unique from the other downtowns because of that,” she said.
That includes everything from handmade foods at Gilbert’s Provisions, to holiday ornaments and art pieces from Jeffery Auxer Designs, soaps from Uncle Jon’s Soap and hand-sewn items at NEST.
Coming up in Berlin is the annual Berlin Christmas Parade, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. downtown, a visit from Santa at the Berlin Visitor’s Center on Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Berlin New Year’s Eve Celebration and Ball Drop on Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
For more information, visit www.BerlinMainStreet.com
This year, Patty Falck of Ta Da decorated the official town tree, which will stand unlit on the patio of the Atlantic Hotel until Mayor Gee Williams throws the switch on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Casino at Ocean Downs will sponsor the return of ice artist Erik Cantine, who will provide ice sculpture demonstrations. As a new feature this year, the town will also offer an interactive, ice sculpted corn-hole board.
Carriage rides will start downtown during the event, and the town will sponsor free rides during weekends in December from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.
Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the tree lighting generally draws upwards of 1,000 people.
Several-dozen downtown shops will be open for business, many of which are offering special sales, unveiling new product lines, and/or hosting holiday charity drives. About 10 downtown restaurants and coffee shops will also be open during the event, which runs until about 8 p.m.
Wells said shopping in Berlin is unique, because many of the items found in the stores are literally one of a kind.
“When you come down to shop in Berlin, a lot of the gifts that you can purchase here are actually made in Berlin. Berlin is unique from the other downtowns because of that,” she said.
That includes everything from handmade foods at Gilbert’s Provisions, to holiday ornaments and art pieces from Jeffery Auxer Designs, soaps from Uncle Jon’s Soap and hand-sewn items at NEST.
Coming up in Berlin is the annual Berlin Christmas Parade, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. downtown, a visit from Santa at the Berlin Visitor’s Center on Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Berlin New Year’s Eve Celebration and Ball Drop on Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
For more information, visit www.BerlinMainStreet.com