Amherst Kicks Off the Winter Season with the Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple on December 5

Source:  Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce

The Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple will take place on Friday, December 5, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 p.m. The event primarily takes place on the newly designed Amherst North Common, with satellite events at the Amherst Fire Station and other downtown locations. The Lighting of the Merry Maple is free and open to all.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Schedule of Events

• 3–6 p.m.: Amherst Fire Station Open House at 68 North Pleasant Street. 
• 3–5 p.m.: Crafts & Games with Amherst Recreation, including sensory-friendly options.
• 3–5 p.m.: Crafts with the Jones Library, and storytime sessions at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the Town Hall (1st Floor Meeting Room).
• 4 p.m -on: Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides courtesy of Muddy Brook Farm (rides pause during the Marching Band performance).
• 4 p.m.: Caroling throughout downtown with the UMass Treble Choir and the Amherst College Zumbyes.
• 4:30 p.m.: Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus Performance on the steps of Town Hall.
• 5:00 p.m.: Tree Lighting Countdown on the steps of Town Hall.
• 5:10 p.m.: Amherst Community Theater Performance on the steps of Town Hall.
• 5:30 p.m.: Santa & Flakey the Snowfriend parade through downtown Amherst and arrive on the Town Common by fire truck.
• 5:30–6 p.m.: UMass Minuteman Marching Band Performance on the Common. 

The Amherst Police Department is hosting a Holiday Gift Drive from November 24 to December 19 and will be collecting donations at the Lighting of the Merry Maple. Unwrapped gifts, books, gift cards, or wrapping supplies are welcome. Donations will be distributed to the Amherst Survival Center, Bridge Family Resource Center, and Amherst School Department.

“The Merry Maple exemplifies what makes Amherst special: community-centered, local artists and musicians, and a vibrant downtown that comes alive during the holidays. I encourage folks to make this just one of many visits to Downtown throughout the month of December,” said John Page, Executive Director of the Amherst Business Improvement District.

Many participants, sponsors, and volunteers help bring the Merry Maple tradition to life each year, including: bankESB, Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Jones Library, Muddy Brook Farm, Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus, UMass Treble Choir, Amherst College Zumbyes, Amherst Community Theater, UMass Minuteman Marching Band, the Office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, and the Town of Amherst Departments of Public Works, Police, Fire, and Amherst Recreation.