Holiday Tree Lighting in Severna Park is Dec. 2

The invites the community to join us for the annual Community Holiday Tree Lighting this Friday, Dec. 2 when we will be closing Holly Avenue from Evergreen to Riggs at 4:30 p.m. to prepare for the festivities. We have some wonderful entertainment for you that evening!

The Maryland Performing Arts East Coast Dance Company (MPAC) will be performing a full company piece called “All I Want for Christmas is You." 

This will include their Petite, Junior, Intermediate and Senior companies, under the direction and with choreography by owner and artistic director at MPAC Kelsey Kocur. 

The newest apprentice company will also be performing a fun number called “Santa Baby.” An extra piece they will be bringing this year performed by their Petite Company, is called “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” with a special guest appearance by the “Grinch” himself. Both of these pieces are also under the direction and choreography of Kocur. 

Maryland Performing Arts Center’s Vocal Department Director Eric Areceneaux will sing for this year’s festivities as well. Areceneaux is a respected and sought-after vocal coach and trainer in the area and all over the world. With his YouTube channel complete with training videos and performances of his own, he has become a local celebrity among aspiring singers of all ages. 

Chorus will perform several selections including "Oh Christmas Tree" and "Happy Hanukah." Local musician Michael Binnie will open the evening at 5 p.m. with bagpipe selections.

Refreshments will be served in the Chamber’s Community Meeting Room and folks will be entertained by local musician Gino Mezzapelle. Local Girl Scouts troops will participate with refreshments and also with special ornament selections for the tree. The troops make ornaments to feed wild birds during the winter months. 

In keeping with the season and a time of giving, the Chamber requests that attendees bring a pair of mittens or new socks to donate to the annual “Sock Hop” collection to benefit the homeless.

Following activities on Holly Avenue, plan to continue the merriment at Park Plaza, where free sleigh rides and and visits with Santa are planned. Enjoy great shopping in Park Plaza and all over Severna Park on Friday. 

Our appreciation goes to our sponsors for this year’s event. M&T Bank is our corporate sponsor, with assistance from Dynasplint Systems, Inc. and BankAnnapolis. We also wish to thank Constellation Energy, Office Depot and the law offices of Elmore & Throop, P.C.   

Local residents Rod and Sharon Mann have provided the sound system for our tree lighting for many years and we thank them for their continued support. We also thank our area Girl Scouts who help with this project in numerous ways.