Subsection Navigation:
Celebration of Lights & Song 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007, Noon to 7 PM: New London Main Street presents A Celebration of Lights & Song by the Sea. An afternoon of celebration throughout the Historic Waterfront Distric of New London, Connecticut.
Blizzard Date: Saturday, December 8, 2007
Celebration of Lights and Song is Calling All Dogs!
Santa won't be the only one kicking off the holiday season at this year's Celebration of Lights and Song. In addition to the siren sounds of the New London Fire Department's fire truck, there will be a great deal of barking going on too. That's because this year, the elves on the Lights and Song committee wanted to include festive pooches dressed up in their favorite holiday outfits! All leashed, friendly dogs and their owners are invited to march in the first pet-friendly holiday parade in New London's Historic Waterfront District.
The procession of Santa, the NLFD and his friends will also include local dance troupes such as the Mitchell College Dance Team, characters from ECB's The Nutcracker, Scrooge, the NLHS Marching Band, the Gingerbread Man and the CT Humane Society Mobile Adoption Center. In addition to hot cocoa, kettle corn and fresh trees, there also will be special pet-friendly treats available for purchase for all those doggies who were nice all year. There's only one thing that can upstage these canines, and that's ballerinas from Eastern CT Ballet!
Ballet on Display
That's right, seven ballerinas will be performing this year in Ballet on Display thanks to the overwhelming generosity of ECB who will be providing free previews of The Nutcracker in several of State Street's storefront windows. The special window performances will begin at 5:15 pm and will end at approximately 5:45 PM. Appearance windows will include Thames River Greenery & Beanery, Parade News, Thames River Imports, and ALVA Gallery. Performances will include dances by the Snow Queen, Mirliton Princess, and Flower, plus Chinese and Spanish ensembles.
Lots of Free Activities!
You don't want to miss this unique holiday event, so come down early on December 1st and grab your spot in front of these generous businesses! Look over the tentative event schedule below to plan your day and check back for more details!
Parade Plaza map. Where to Park downtown.
Schedule of Events
12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Free Santa Tickets Available at Santa Ticket Booth. First Come, First Serve.
Parade Plaza
Gingerbread Decorating to Benefit New London Schools
Gingerbread Story Land (Public Library of New London)
Meet the Sugarplum Fairy as she Poses for Photographs!
Gingerbread Story Land (Public Library of New London)
Custom House Holiday Gathering-Plum Duff and Ornament Making
Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street
12:00 PM-6:00 PM
Main Street Hospitality Station
Parade Plaza
Ice Carving Exhibition
Hygienic Art Park
Saturday Holiday Market with CT Lyric Opera Performances
The Atrium, 165 State Street
Gourmet Galley Holiday Stop. Delicious holiday treats!
Crocker House Lobby, 180 State Street.
Fresh Trees, Wreaths & Holiday Greens
Bulkeley House Patio
Costumed Tours
Nathan Hale Schoolhouse
Hot Kettle Corn, Steaming Homemade Cocoa, Cider and More
Available throughout the District
12:45 PM
Santa and His Reindeer Arrive by Fire Truck to Kick Off Procession!
Public Library of New London
Holiday Procession Begins! See Santa, NLFD, Scrooge, ECB's Nutcracker Characters, Dance Teams, Festive Doggies, CT Humane Society Mobile Adoption Center and the NLHS Marching Band!
*All procession participants, including dogs and their owners should arrive by 12:30 PM to the Public Library of New London Parking Lot.
From Public Library of New London to Parade Plaza.
Events at the Parade Plaza
01:15 PM
Santa Arrives to Parade Plaza!
01:30 PM
Harbor School Chorus Serenades Santa
01:45 PM
St. Joseph's School Students Performance
1:45 PM-5:00 PM
Santa Hears Holiday Wishes, Nathan Hale School House
02:00 PM
Local Dance Troupe, Holiday Dance Show
2:15 PM
Mitchell College Dance Team, Holiday Dance Show
3:00 PM
First Annual Michael's Dairy Scooper Bowl, Ice Cream Eating Competition
4:30 PM
Coast Guard Choir, Holiday Performance and Leading of Community Carol Sing
05:00 PM
Tree Lighting. Followed by Ballet on Display at 5:15 PM!
Events Throughout Downtown
8:30 AM-11:00 PM
Bean and Leaf, 13 Washington Street
Musical Performance by Richard Zach 6:30 PM-9:30 PM
Enjoy 20% Off Any Drip
10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Peacock Feathers
Enjoy 20% Off All Merchandise 1PM-8PM
11:00 AM-6:00 PM
Flavours of Life, 86 Bank Street
Enjoy Fair Trade coffee, chocolate drinks and brownies.
11:00 AM-8:00 PM
O'Brasil
Serving "Venho Quente," (Hot spiced wine)
Local Author Glenn Alan Cheney will sign copies of his new book,
Thanksgiving: The Pilgrims' First Year in America
1:00 PM-8:00 PM
The Holly and the Ivy: New London Through Time and Place
A Living History Play Directed by Flock Theatre
Tickets Available in the Atrium, 165 State Street, Suite 101
Adults $20, Children $10
05:15 PM-05:45 PM
Ballet on Display
Presented by Eastern CT Ballet
Preview free performances of The Nutcracker!
Ballerinas dance in Thames River Greenery & Beanery, Parade News, Thames River Imports and ALVA Gallery on State Street.
Tickets for full Nutcracker performances available at the Garde Arts Center
05:30 PM
DNLA Tree Auction, Corner of State and Meridian streets.
Art=Gifts, Holiday Art Exhibit, Hygienic Art Gallery, 79-83 Bank Street
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
Little Havana, 114 Bank Street
Free Horse and Carriage Rides
Ride Around Downtown in Style!
08:00 PM
Eastern CT Symphony Orchestra
Garde Arts Center
Produced by
Brought to You By
Subsection Navigation:
