Celebrate Christmas in Padanaram with holiday stroll, buoy tree lighting

Christmas is coming early to Padanaram Village on Friday, Dec. 1, when the annual holiday stroll will light up the streets and the now-traditional buoy tree. 

“We’re just trying to make it good family fun,” said Nicole Mello, treasurer for the Padanaram Business Association. “We’re hoping everybody … can just really enjoy the lights being up and it’ll put you in that Christmas spirit.”

A number of businesses in the village will be sharing holiday items or activities for kids. Anne Whiting Real Estate, for instance, will be providing cheese, crackers and wine, along with pictures with the Grinch. Little Moss will have eggnog available and Scuttlebutt will have German Market street food and treats for kids. Over 20 businesses in the village will have some type of treat, drink or activity to share. 

A DJ will be featured near Farm and Coast Market, along with three Victorian carolers. 

“We’re trying to make it like when you watch an old Hallmark movie or Lifetime movie,” Mello said. “We want to bring you back in time.”

The festivities officially kick off at 4 p.m. Santa will stroll into town on a Fire Truck at 4:30 p.m., and the 3rd annual buoy tree lighting will start at 7 p.m. 

The buoy tree is more than just nautical flair: each buoy represents a donation made by community members to the Friends of Jack Foundation, which provides programs and specialists for kids coping with medical situations at the hospital. 

Buoys are still available for purchase. Each buoy costs $10 for individuals and $50 for businesses, and can be purchased at Farm and Coast Market, Team MCM at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty and Anne Whiting Real Estate. After painting and customizing the buoy, people can drop them off at the Padanaram Maritime Center in a small boat. 

Individual buoys go on the tree, while business buoys go along the boardwalk. Fifty buoys will be chosen for the auction and sold online to the end of the year. 

The tree lighting will also feature a surprise dedication to a Dartmouth resident. 

This year, the Padanaram Business Association tried to get more food trucks to participate. The Oxcart and Ella’s will be there, and a few other trucks are working on getting permits, Mello said. 

The stroll will again have Santa’s tent set up in the Milbury and Company parking lot. Kids will be able to take pictures with Santa there. 

Along with Santa, characters from Disney’s “Frozen” will be walking around.