SPRINGFIELD/CHICOPEE – With the holiday season underway, Springfield and Chicopee are making preparations for their annual Christmas Tree Lighting events.

For Springfield, Director of Communications William Baker shared that the city will have three different tree lighting events to celebrate the holidays. On Nov. 26 at 5 p.m., Springfield Museums will host their annual Lighting of the Quadrangle. According to the museum’s website, the celebration will feature entertainment by Vinny the Bubble Guy and the Under the Sea gingerbread exhibition.
Also on Nov. 26, MGM Springfield will be hosting their annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. The event has been an annual fixture since MGM opened in 2018, with the casino unveiling their 38-foot tree decorated with lights and festive ornaments.

Springfield will also have a tree lighting at Union Station, as Baker revealed that final preparations are still underway for the event. The tentative date for the Union Station lighting is Nov. 23, with local legislators expected to be in attendance, according to Baker.

For Chicopee, the city will be hosting their yearly Christmas Tree Lighting from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m on Dec. 3. Mayor John Vieau will arrive to the event at 5 p.m., meeting Santa and lighting the city’s tree upon his arrival. Before the mayor arrives to the event, the mayor’s Communications and Special Projects Manager Rachel Beaulieu explained that entertainment and ChicopeeTV will be present to celebrate the holiday spirit. All of Chicopee is welcomed to attend the downtown event. “We think it’s a festive way to bring in the holidays,” said Beaulieu.

After the tree lighting, soup, hot chocolate and other refreshments will be served in City Hall auditorium. Vieau also explained that city employment opportunities will be offered, allowing inquiring patrons to learn and apply for different available positions. “Citizens can come to the tree lighting expecting a great time,” said Vieau.

Readers can find updates on the tree lighting events by following Chicopee and Springfield’s social media pages, https://www.facebook.com/cityofchicopee and https://www.facebook.com/CityofSpringfieldMA respectively.