New Bedford Officials Announce Holiday Events
UPDATE: The 2022 Downtown Holiday Stroll and tree-lighting at the library have been postponed until Dec. 10 due to rain.
NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford city officials have released this year's holiday schedule of events, set to kick off this weekend with the annual Holiday Stroll downtown and two tree lighting ceremonies.
The Downtown Holiday Stroll will take place starting at noon on Saturday, Dec. 3 and going until 5 p.m., with a rain date set for next Saturday, Dec. 10.
Activities will include Santa spotting, the Starchasers Fleet, the Winter Fairy, Kids’ Crafts and hot chocolate, and music from the Seaglass Theater Company Carolers at various locations.
At Barkers Lane, kids will be able to meet Santa and ride on antique fire trucks provided by the New Bedford Fire Museum, with music from the Southcoast Brass Band.
There will also be a story time with Salty Santa and ornament craft projects at the Fishing Heritage Center, as well as a Vendor Market at the YWCA.
BuyBlackNB will be hosting a Holiday Market at the New Bedford Whaling Museum including entertainment from Alma Stomp Crew, Our Sisters' School Soul Sisters, the UMass Dartmouth Gospel Choir, and dancers from the Pan African Dance Group and the New Bedford Performing Arts Center.
Finally, there will be a Holiday Open House at the Nathan and Mary Johnson House and an event with celebrity puppeteer Bill Diamond at the PLAY Arcade, as well as a Calico Makers' Mini Market with DJ Anj Kepinski at Bristol Hall.
A parade including the high school marching band and special guests will start at the bottom of William Street near the Whaling Museum at 4:30 p.m., heading to the steps of the main library on Pleasant Street for the city's downtown Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at 5 p.m.
The ceremony will be emceed by New Bedford Festival Theater executive producer Armand Marchand.
Mayor Jon Mitchell and City Council President Ian Abreu will give speeches at the library, followed by holiday songs from Miss New Bedford Tori Kalisz and Miss New Bedford Outstanding Teen Jaime St. Onge.
Community Services, Veterans Transition House, and New Life Church will also offer free hot chocolate at the ceremony.
Unwrapped gifts for children of all ages can also be given to the United Way toy drive on the occasion.
The Clasky Common Park Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4.
The ceremony will include remarks from the mayor and the city council president along with the holiday songs by Miss New Bedford Tori Kalisz, Miss New Bedford Outstanding Teen Jaime St. Onge, and the Parker School Chorus.
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