Jacky Welsh Tree Lighting

Jacky Welsh Tree Lighting
Join us promptly at 6pm for the 16th annual tree lighting ceremony behind the town hall at the holiday tree. Take time out of the hustle and bustle of the season to come together to remember, to celebrate, and to enjoy our wonderful community. The East Granby High School Chorus will help get us in the spirit of the season, our Shine a Light on Community Creative Contest winners will share their projects, and we will kick-off the holiday season together.

Toy Drive
This is a free town event, but we do ask that you consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the CT State Police and EG Resident Trooper "Stuff-a-Cruiser". All toys will be donated to a local domestic violence family shelter. Thank you for helping us fill the cruiser! Note: If you are unable to attend the event, but would still like to donate a toy, a collection bin will be in the entry way of the police station by November 30, 2026.

Cookies & Cocoa
Immediately following the tree lighting ceremony, join us in the Senior/ Community Center for free cookies, hot cocoa, photo ops, and holiday festivities.

Letters to Santa
Have you written your letter to Santa yet? East Granby Youth Services will have a special North Pole mailbox at the event for any child who would like to send their letter to Santa. Supplies will also be available if your child has not had a chance to write their letter. Be sure they include their name and return address so Santa and his elves can write back to them! Mailboxes will also be available at the Sears House at EG Farms, the EG Public Library, and Town Hall.

Memorial Luminaries
For the fifth year in a row, we will be lighting up the town campus with luminaries purchased in memory of loved ones who have passed. Luminaries can be purchased online here. $5 per luminary or $20 for five.You will be given the opportunity to leave a message that will be transposed onto a luminary by our volunteers, and then then be placed around the Town Campus for the evening. If you hope to personalize your- luminary please contact the East Granby Parks and Recreation office at 860-653-7660 or email eastgranbyrecreation@gmail.com.

Luminaries can also be purchased in-person at the Town Hall First Selectperson's Office in Town Hall or at the Parks & Rec reatioon Office at East Granby Farms, during regular business hours.

Any profit made from the sale of luminaries will be donated to the Resident Trooper Office to purchase items for their Stuff-a-Cruiser toy drive.

Shine a Light on Community Creative Contest

We are excited to announce that our annual essay contest has expanded! This year, we are inviting creators of all kinds in grades K-5 who live in East Granby, to help us Shine a Light on "What my community means to me” through the medium they love best. Whether you express yourself through words, art, or a mix of both, we want to see what makes our community special to you. Please be sure the author includes their name, age/grade, and best contact information for their parent or guardian.

We are now accepting submissions in the following categories:
• Essays & Short Stories (The essay should be approximately 100 (one hundred) words in length. Entries can either be typed or handwritten in neat legible writing, by an adult if necessary.)
• Poetry
• Drawings, Paintings & Illustrations
• Mixed Media & Original Art

Show us the people, places, and moments that brighten our neighborhood.

The winner will have the honor of turning the lights on during the Town Tree Lighting, so they must be available to attend the event.

Entries can be submitted to Parks & Recreation via email at eastgranbyrecreation@gmail.com, or dropped in the white mailbox at the base of the entrance ramp outside the Parks & Recreation Office at 79 North Main Street. All entries MUST be received by 11:59 pm, Monday, November 30, 2026.

Questions
Please call the Parks and Recreation Office at (860) 653-7660 if you have any questions.

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