Willow Grove Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration Scheduled

The tradition of a Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony will return to Upper Moreland on Nov. 27, in large part through the efforts of the .

But instead of the township’s traditional real tree, an artificial LED tree will be installed.

The township commissioners approved of the holiday tree lighting ceremony at the , which took place earlier this week.

“I’m very glad to see that it’s an LED tree, because it’s very energy efficient,” Ward 3 commissioner Donna Parsell said at the meeting.

According to the Kiwanis-supplied documents, which the township commissioners reviewed before the vote, an artificial LED tree is over 70-percent more energy efficient than a tree lit with conventional lights.

“This was actually a substantial upgrade from the standard tree,” Bob Young, president of the Kiwanis Club of Old York Road, said after the commissioners meeting.

According to Young, the holiday tree is estimated to be 18-feet in height, and covered with 680 lamps; topped off with a star containing 112 bulbs.

He said that many of the people responsible for bringing past holiday trees to the township have also helped with getting this year’s tree to Willow Grove.

“For years now, Kip McFatridge had spearheaded getting real trees donated,” Young said of the current Ward 5 commissioner. “He knew that our Kiwanis group wanted to make a lasting investment in Willow Grove and approached us with the idea of providing the downtown area with an artificial tree.”

Young added, aside from its longevity, an artificial tree would be easier to transport and assemble.

The ceremony itself will take place in the fountain area of Veterans Memorial Park, whose repairs to the fountain were completed on Nov. 10.

The tree-lighting ceremony will take place from 5 – 7 p.m., and will feature music, free refreshments and a visit from Santa.

According to Young, the location not only utilizes the ‘downtown area’ of Willow Grove, but also honors the memory of veterans.

“We felt that it would help bring the community together, which is our continual goal,” Young said.