It’s the holiday season and with Thanksgiving over, the Christmas lights on homes are aglow and trees are being bought and decorated. A good family outing, and often a tradition, is traveling to a tree farm and picking out the perfect fresh tree and cutting it down themselves or with the help of the tree farm workers. Next was taking it back to pay and enjoying hot chocolate or hot toddy by a warm glowing fire and often making s’mores or tasting roasted chestnuts. Some tree farms offer horse drawn slay rides or tractor rides through a frozen winter wonderland. The key to a good time is keeping bundled up with a warm coat, hat and mittens or gloves. Often bringing disposable warmers that can be purchased on line or at a local pharmacy or dollar store will keep one’s mittens or toes warm during the eventful tree search. I do prefer warmers that can be reused over and over and plugged in via USB port because they will last longer and will be used for other outdoor events or festivals during the winter season. If a tree farm isn’t for you but you prefer the smell of a real Christmas tree, local mom and pop stores or organizations like a fire department or the scouting troops often sell trees as fundraisers in most towns. In the borough of Fountain Hill trees are sold down by the park. For those who prefer to get artificial trees, there are expensive trees like Balsam Hill and Southern Living, often found at department stores like Boscov’s or hardware stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot. But if searching for a great deal searching online ads one can compare and contrast at stores such as Walmart or Target and discount stores like BJ’s, Sam’s Club or Costco. However, Job Lots or Ollie’s and even the dollar stores can have inexpensive trees usually from very small to seven feet tall with or without lights. Once a tree is acquired, it’s often a good time to search out various holiday lighting events. Most small towns and even bigger cities have a designated evening one can bring family or friends to watch the local tree lighting ceremony.

Again, dress warm if living in a colder climate. Often there is caroling and or music and Santa might even visit for the little ones. Some local fire departments come with Santa on the engine handing out candy canes and I am told in one small NJ town, they were given oranges. I guess Santa wanted to make sure the children got their vitamin C for the day, Ho Ho Ho!! if seeing Santa in the cold outside isn’t your thing, the local papers, department stores, Indoor malls, outdoor lifestyle shopping malls, churches, fire halls, Sands Casino or Windcreek mall areas often have designated dates and times for Santa to be present for photo ops and asking for that special Christmas present. Many pet stores and outdoor Christmas markets have opportunities for photos with Santa to be taken with your pet dogs like a Petco or Pet Smart or local doggie daycare. Some animal rescues have a day for photos of Santa Claus with your pet dogs or cat and you or your child for a donation to the animal rescue which is a good way to give to a good cause and have an enjoyable family moment with a keepsake photo of the day. Many have basket social’s and cookies or baked goods and hot cocoa for the event and of course that favorite Christmas music to round out the festivities. Town square tree lightings and Santa Claus festivities are just the beginning to an exciting holiday season.