Hingham’s Annual “Christmas in the Square” Festival Brings Residents Together
As a light snow falls, the festival of the trees is visible inside of the Old Derby Academy. It is easy to see the lanterns that surround the steps and sidewalk.
December 8, 2019
On Friday, December 6th, Hingham hosted “Christmas in the Square,” an annual town-wide festival that Hingham has taken pride in for nearly 40 years. From 5:00 to 8:00 on Friday night, families enjoyed a multitude of activities all in the holiday spirit, including letter writing to Santa, a projection of holiday classics Its A Wonderful Life and The Polar Express on the side of a building, performances by various children’s choirs from Hingham, and of course, the arrival of Santa Claus. As usual, the town tradition attracted thousands of people to the heart of Hingham and brought the town together for an evening of celebration.
The event is a favorite for townspeople and shop keepers alike. The shopkeepers at Artisans in the Square always look forward to the event. Sandy Smith, one of the artisans, proudly shared, “we love Christmas in the Square because we get to see all our friends, from over the past ten years, that have come in to support us and enjoy the merriment.” Fellow artisans Sue MaCowen and Shari Deasy agree that Chrismas in the Square is a great time to celebrate and appreciate their customers.
Aside from the main festivities, the town hosts multiple other festivals and traditions. One such event was the Festival of the Trees, which is hosted by the Old Derby Academy. This silent auction allows anyone to bid on a Christmas tree package to take home. In addition to the decorated Christmas tree, the packages include various prizes donated by businesses around town, and some include donations to local charities. Along with the Festival of the Trees, the Downtown Association also hosted the second annual Luminaria Festival. At this event, citizens could buy a lantern to have displayed on the steps of the Old Derby Academy.
Saint Pauls Church hosted the fan favorite “Snow in the Square”, where the commuter rail launched cotton balls into the air from a tunnel running through downtown. Staged in front of the movie projections, the “snow” added a lighthearted touch to the event.
Remaining a town-wide favorite event, residents can look forward to coming together at this festival for many years to come.
