(VERNON, Connecticut) – Winterfest, the FREE annual holiday celebration that features a fire truck parade, the lighting of the tree in Central Park and the snow flake on Fox Hill Tower, and the arrival of Santa Claus begins about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.
“Winterfest is a great opportunity to bring our community together to kick off the holidays and light up beautiful Downtown Rockville and Henry Park,” Mayor Dan Champagne said. “We’ve added more lights at Henry Park and it will be even more spectacular this year. Rockville General Hospital will also join in the festivities with a simultaneous tree lighting.”
A DJ will play holiday music, the Rockville High School Marching Band will perform, decorated fire trucks will parade into Downtown Rockville and Santa Claus will arrive to hear children’s Christmas wishes at the Santa House.
The parade begins between 6 and 6:15 p.m. and travels down East Main Street to West Main to Central Park. The fire truck parade will feature firefighters from Vernon and several neighboring towns.
Mayor Champagne will lead the lighting of the tree, the snowflake on Fox Hill Tower and the lights at Rockville Memorial Hospital. After the tree lighting, sugar cookies and apple cider will be served in front of Town Hall. Candy canes will also be handed out.
The Henry park lights will be illuminated each night from 4 to 10 p.m. beginning on Friday, Nov. 25. People can drive through the park and enjoy the lights at their leisure.
“These kinds of family-friendly celebrations build community,” Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said. “What’s even better is that Henry Park will be illuminated through the end of December for people to enjoy.”