The holiday season is nearly here, and local residents can look forward to Christmas lights, decorated trees and time with loved ones. In Cinnaminson, Palmyra, Delran and beyond, there are a number of events and activities to brighten the holidays.
Cinnaminson Annual Holiday Lightning
Cinnaminson Township will hold its annual holiday lighting celebration Nov. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Park. The event will include holiday crafts with Cinnaminson High School Art Club, Rush School Music Makers, the Aqua String Band, a tour of the Burlington County Model Railroad Trains at Footlighters, hot chocolate, coffee, hot tea and cookies. Carriage rides which will occur on Riverton Road, from Pomona Road to Parry Road.
The township will close the road to traffic from 5 to 9:30 p.m. while the carriages operate.
“The Cinnaminson Township Committee is committed to providing our residents with a variety of special events throughout the year,” said Mayor Ernest McGill. “Our holiday lighting event provides an opportunity for residents to celebrate the holiday season as a community right here in Cinnaminson.
“Our police department and parks and recreation committee have coordinated an excellent program and I encourage everyone to come out to enjoy a fun evening with family and friends.”
Delran Winter Festival & Tree Lighting
The annual Delran Winter Festival and Tree Lighting will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7. The festival has long been a staple in the community, but over the last three years, Councilman Tyler Burrell and the rest of the Recreational Advisory Committee have changed the event for the better.
According to Burrell, the festival previously included a tree-lighting ceremony inside the Delran Municipal Building, with Santa in the back conference rooms taking pictures. This year, the committee wanted to make the event bigger.
“Previously, what started to happen was a lot of residents were going to other places,” said Burrell. “The two reasons why was because the space in the municipal building was small and wasn’t the greatest atmosphere for an event like that. Also, people started going to bigger events to get more into the spirit.”
The RAC rebranded the festival in 2017. The tree lighting and pictures with Santa remained, but the committee also added arts and crafts, a bonfire, an outdoor tree lighting, vendors, food trucks and more.
The event was held at Delran Community Park in 2017; the 2018 festival was rained out. This year’s event will also take place at the municipal building, but will again be outside. Chester Avenue will be closed.
For more information, residents can go to Delrantownship.org.
CEHASA Winterfest
“Winterfest has been a tradition for the Cinnaminson Elementary Home and School Association for many years,” said CEHASA President Tami Bobrin. “It is a wonderful way to support local small businesses, vendors and craftspeople. Also, it offers a convenient place for families to come to celebrate the holiday season.”
Winterfest also is a fundraiser for CEHASA, and the event supports middle school and high school clubs and sports teams in their own fundraising efforts.
This year, Winterfest will include the sale of spirit wear, poinsettias, the famous Cookie Lane, food, a visit and pictures with Santa Claus, a new Santa’s Workshop with crafts and games, musical performances and a demonstration by Action Karate. CEHASA will also host over 75 vendors, with products ranging from hand-dipped chocolates and giant cinnamon buns to jewelry, American Girl doll clothes and hand-crocheted gift items.
Admission and parking are free.
CEHASA is the parent-teacher organization for the Cinnaminson elementary schools. Its goals are to provide enrichment programs, support assemblies, trips, equipment, student recognition and celebrations. For questions, contact Julie North, acting chair, at (609) 781-8264, or Bobrin at (610) 655-5986.
Winter Night Market
The Palmyra Improvement Association will hold its third annual Winter Night Market at 5 p.m. Nov. 30 at Chief Payton Flournoy Park. The event will begin with a scavenger hunt and residents are encouraged to go from business to business on Main Street. With each business visited, residents will have an extra opportunity to enter raffles and win a prize. Prizes are donated from the Palmyra Improvement Association.
After the scavenger hunt, residents will meet for an after party. This portion of the night will feature crafts, food vendors, train rides, Christmas carols, a DJ and a kids corner where children can write letters to Santa.
Funds raised from the market go to the Palmyra improvement Association, which puts the money back into the community.
Palmyra Band Booster Holiday Craft Fair
The Palmyra Band Boosters Club will hold its annual holiday craft fair between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at Palmyra High School. The fair is a fundraiser that encompasses the community and benefits the Palmyra High School marching and concert band.
The club is run by parents whose mission is to get involved with the band and make the experience worthwhile to the Palmyra community.
“The craft fair is an event that we do every year and it’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said club Treasurer Kim Gillespie. “We bring a lot of our local vendors and people within the community to help promote local business, but also to fund the band.
“The band booster club is an organization that tries to help the band in any way that is not necessarily covered under the school’s budget.”
Breakfast with Santa
Santa will enjoy the most important meal of the day with local residents a few times in December.
Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cinnaminson will host its Breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at the church, 2618 New Albany Road. Tickets are $5 for adults and children over the age of 2; four-legged friends will be permitted between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Breakfast with Santa will also be held from 8 to 11 a.m. Dec. 8 at The Merion, 1301 Route 130 South in Cinnaminson. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Cinnaminson fire or police departments. Tickets for adults and children are $10; children under 5 are free. Questions can be emailed to Keith Zimecki at [email protected].
Delran Middle and High School PTA will host Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 7 at the high school. There are two seatings available – 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. – and cost is $5 per breakfast, which includes a choice of mini pancakes, bagel with cream cheese or cereal, served with either fruit or yogurt. There will be juice and hot chocolate. Children can share holiday wishes with Santa and have their photo taken. Find the ticket form at www.delranmiddlehighpta.org. Students who want to volunteer with the breakfast can send their request to [email protected]. Breakfast with Santa is being held the same day as Delran Elementary School PTO’s annual Holiday Craft Fair, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Delran Middle School gym. Vendors interested in participating can visit www.delranelementarypto.org for more information.
Winter Warm-Up
Celebrate the upcoming wintry season at the Cinnaminson Library’s warm-up party. Teens are invited to create festive decorations, ugly holiday T-shirts and cozy hand warmers while enjoying a hot chocolate station and “snowball” games. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12. Participants should bring their own T-shirts to decorate.
Holiday Card Drive for the Homeless
“Spending the holidays on the streets can be tough and we wanted to help spread some extra holiday cheer to our homeless friends by sending them holiday cards,” said Lauren Purnell of Naming the Homeless.
“We’re reaching out to our community to ask that friends of Naming the Homeless donate personalized holiday cards for our homeless friends to remind them that we care.”
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 18, Purnell and the organization will collect personalized holiday greeting cards handmade or store bought for distribution to the homeless. Participants are encouraged to include first name, age and grade on their creations with a parent’s permission so Naming the Homeless can feature them on its Facebook page and website.
There will be a drop box to collect cards at 401 West 3rd St., Apt. 1A, Florence, 08518. To arrange for pick up, email Purnell at [email protected].
Winter Concerts
The Cinnaminson Middle School will hold its annual holiday program at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the school. The event will feature performances from the dance team, chorus, select singers and guitar classes. Senior citizens are encouraged to attend a breakfast at CMS and enjoy the talent of the performers.
The Cinnaminson Middle School also will feature its winter concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Cinnaminson High School auditorium. The high school will hold its strings concert from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and the winter concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 19.
For Delran, the Delran Middle School will hold their winter chorus and band concert on Dec. 5 from 7 to 8:30 in the Delran High School performing arts center. The Delran Intermediate School will have their winter chorus concert at the Delran High School at 7 p.m.
Palmyra will have their Charles Street School concert at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18.
