AGAWAM – Since September, a group of volunteers have been hard at work to bring holiday spirit to the town of Agawam by conducting the first tree lighting ceremony in decades.

Vak Chonmany of the Agawam Community Center, who leads the Agawam Winter Celebration planning committee, has been working with a small team of volunteers on the event scheduled for Dec. 21 on the Veterans Green at Main and School streets. Initially, the group was planning a Christmas party, but Chonmany and the rest of the volunteer team decided to change the name to promote inclusiveness. “We started as a Christmas celebration but thought it might be beneficial to change to a winter celebration to include everyone. We didn’t want anyone in the community feeling left out.”

The event is being hosted on the last day of school before winter break for Agawam Public Schools, and Chonmany feels that this will elicit excitement. “It’s great for the kids to look forward to. Kids at school age don’t really have anywhere to go and it is something memorable.” The planning committee is currently working to finalize exact details of the event.

The tree lighting, which will include an appearance by Mayor William Sapelli of Agawam, takes center stage, but numerous activities will surround the event. Among planned events include animals, an ugly sweater contest, raffles and ornament decorating. To the delight of locals, Santa Claus will also be at the celebration for photos.

The community is coming together to volunteer services to the event including collecting food for the food pantry. School groups will be on site including the Agawam High School choir and cheerleaders. Groups such as the Agawam Self Defense Club and Agawam Robotics will also be represented. Chonmany shared, “We have people coming to broadcast talent. Agawam has a lot to offer in the community.”

Vendors will also be hosted at the event including the Agawam Lions Club, who will be handing out free hot chocolate to guests. Maple Hut will also be present serving maple flavored cotton candy.

Chonmany is hoping that the town’s tree lighting is successful and can become an annual event. “We are hoping to make this a yearly thing in the heart of the town, I’m really excited. It will be great. If this goes great, we can do it yearly.”

Chonmany is happy to see how the community came together to make the upcoming event possible. “So far, we have about twenty people involved, but it is growing in the community. I feel blessed for that. I thought it was going to just be my students and me, but all these people just jumped on board and got a lot of stuff done. Townspeople are really giving back. The spirit of the winter celebration is with everybody.”

The Agawam Winter Celebration is being conducted on donations and volunteers alone. Chonmany shared, “I’m blown away by how far we have come. We started in late September but have grown. It’s a lot of hard work between a small group of people. People working with churches, Mayor Sapelli, superintendent Lemanski, businesses…there is a lot involved.”

Chonmany and the members of the Agawam Winter Celebration planning board want to show surrounding towns all that Agawam has to offer. “Agawam has been a very quiet town. There’s a lot going on. We want to showcase what we have in town. Other towns have their own functions, but Agawam doesn’t hold many. I wanted to get the townspeople together. I’m hoping to break the stride of fear to go out and have a tight-knit community.”

The Agawam Winter Celebration is certain to provide heartwarming memories for residents, and Chonmany is hoping for just that. “Taking photos with Santa, strolling through neighborhoods to see the lighted houses, it will all provide memories for Agawam families.”

The Agawam Winter Celebration will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Veteran’s Green. To volunteer, please contact the Agawam Winter Celebration Committee at 657-8237. For updates as it draws closer, please visit the Agawam Winter Celebration Facebook page.