The City of Beacon has chosen a new location for the Christmas tree lighting - Memorial Park. If you were wondering where the very tall evergreen tree near the parking lot appeared from, or if it had been there the whole time but you just didn’t remember, Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris White confirmed during this week’s City Council Meeting that indeed, such a large tree was recently planted to the left of the parking lot of Memorial Park. An electrical outlet was dug and positioned next to the tree so that power could reach the tree for the lights. City Administrator Chris said that Beacon’s Tree Committee was involved in the tree planting. Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou mentioned in his City Council Report that he attended the event, found it enjoyable, and that eventually, it got cold.

The tree lighting event is usually at Pohill Park, which is at Beacon’s most visible main entrance of Main Street and Wolcott Ave (aka Bank Square and Beacon Creamery). Regarding the new location, one of the organizers, Rhonda Altonen, who is also the leader of Girl Scouts Heart Of The Hudson, Inc., told the Beacon Free Press: “We knew that if the event continued to grow, we would need more space. Construction/renovations of the Lewis Tompkins House [Firehouse] also contributed, as they would need space for equipment.”

The new firehouse is one of Beacon’s largest multi-million dollar construction projects, which is currently overshadowing the Welcome Center at Pohill Park, with fencing to protect the new building and geothermal heating underneath, which has constrained parking for St. Andrews Church, and resulted in the one-way designation of South Avenue for the block off Main Street.

The Beacon Free Press reported that people could expect a few take-aways from the event, including an ornament kit, hot chocolate and a cookie. A stage was set for local performers to shine in their holiday cheer. Performances from Yanarella, Salvation Army, Ballet Arts’ Dutchess Dance Company dancers, and others (please chime in the Comments to identify your group!).

All videos of performances were sent in by ALBB Reader Paula Merlino. Thank you, Paula!

Dancers from Yanarella School of Dance.

The Dutchess Dance Company dancers from Ballet Arts.

Carolers. We spy with our little eyes, the new Captain for Beacon’s Salvation Army, Captain Jesseyna Wiand on the far left of the microphones.

Short 10-ish Year Historic Path Of The Tree Lightnings In Beacon

Traditionally…and…traditions have always evolved here in Beacon…there was a time in the past 10 or so years where a holiday scene was at Pohill Park at the Main Street entrance of Beacon on the west end of town, near the train. There was a tree sculpture made of illuminated bicycle wheels. Next to it was a menorah sculpture, also made of illuminated bicycle wheels. Usually Santa would be rickshaw-ed down Main Street and visit with people. The organization who produced this was BeaconArts, in conjunction with the City of Beacon, and Ed Benavente was the artist of the tree and menorah. So far, a date for a Menorah lighting has not been announced by the City of Beacon or other group. The last time the bicycle menorah lit was in 2021.

Over time, some Beaconites wanted an evergreen tree to be the lit tree again. BeaconArts went through different reorganizations, and the tree lighting ceremony shifted to a new old group. The bicycle tree and menorah no longer lit up Beacon’s main entrance. A giant evergreen behind the Welcome Center was the new celestial greeting. The City of Beacon organized the Santa sittings, there was hot chocolate and different organizations participated to make the tree lighting a fun night for all. That has now moved to Memorial Park.