Montville is making plans for the town’s 11th annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting. The event on Sunday, Dec. 7, continues to be a wholesome hometown affair, according to Montville Parks and Recreation Department Director Jim Butler.
Parks and Rec has decided to continue holding the parade on the same day as the Norwich Winter Festival, Butler said. The Norwich event, which starts at 1 p.m., pays bands to populate the festival. The Montville parade, which will kick off at 5 p.m., will stay with the tradition of an all-volunteer event with the help and support of town departments and services.
Individuals, organizations, and businesses that want to be in the parade—a float, musical performance, costumes, or some sort of presence—should get their completed registration forms turned in before Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 27. These can be downloaded from the Town of Montville Web site or picked up at the Parks and Recreation Department, 310 Norwich New London Turnpike.
The town festivities on Dec. 7 will start at 3 p.m. with a holiday music concert by The Illusions. Weather permitting, this will be outdoors at the old Town Hall, or moved indoors to the Uncasville Gym in the new Town Hall.
Several area businesses and organizations are planning activities throughout the afternoon. Butler provided a quick rundown of plans so far:
Montville Youth Service Bureau will hold its annual book fair and sale and have free hot cocoa and cider at its center at 289 Route 32.
Café 32 will hold a gingerbread house decorating. Montville Florists will have a crafts project for kids to make their own fresh holiday decorations. Friendly Pizza House on Route 32 will be offering a special that afternoon, too.
The parade will start at Montville Church and Allen Funeral Home, Route 32. It will end at Town Hall for the annual tree-lighting ceremony, where the Montville High School chorus will perform and people can join along in carols. Awards will be presented for parade floats and participants.
And of course, Santa Claus will make his appearance, Butler said. Santa also will hang out with the kids at the Montville Youth Center to hear what they want for the holidays.
“It’s a pretty big day. With this economy, we hope everybody plans to come out,” Butler said.
Also new this year is a town food drive. Everyone who comes to take in the festivities is asked to bring a non-perishable food item. The Montville Youth Service Bureau has teamed up with Montville Social Services to help stock the town’s food bank, maintained for town residents with emergency food needs. Uncas Health District is donating the use of its truck to transport the collection.
“If everyone who comes to watch the parade and activities brings one food item, we should meet our goal of over 1,000 items,” Butler said. “We want to fill up the truck.”
By Suzanne Thompson
Special to the Times
For more information about the parade and the afternoon’s activities, call Montville Parks and Recreation, 860-858-3030, ext. 321 or 322, or go to the town Web site, www.townofmontville.org. For Montville Youth Service Bureau activities, see www.montvilleyouth.org. To sign up for the Café 32 gingerbread house-making, go to www.cafe32.net.