The Christmas parade, Santa by helicopter and more. Your guide to Quincy holiday events
QUINCY – With this past weekend's tree lighting, annual parade and Santa's arrival by helicopter, the Christmas and holiday season is underway in the City of Presidents.
Here is an event guide for tree lightings, concerts, fairs, skating and more happening across the city in the coming weeks.
In case of bad weather, check in with Quincy's social media accounts, especially Facebook.
Kilroy Square Holiday Market
For six days spread over two weekends (Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 1-3), Kilroy Square in Quincy Center will host artisans, specialty shops and crafters inside a big, heated tent as well as inside the glass-enclosed gallery. The market will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
In addition to the more than 95 vendors, there will be a beer garden hosted by Widowmaker Brewing, hot and cold cocktails by Townsend and assorted food trucks.
Shoppers can pick up genuine Christmas trees and wreaths from Boy Scout Troop 42.
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Best of all, Kris Kringle himself will be there on Sunday, Nov. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. to hear Christmas wishes and revise his list.
Santa's arrival by helicopter at Pageant Field
On Saturday, Nov. 25, at noon, Santa with his cadre of elves will touch down at Pageant Field at 1 Merrymount Parkway. Friendly costumed characters will be on hand to greet the young and young at heart before the arrival of the jolly one.
QATV will record the event and show it later in the week. Visit qatv.org for scheduling.
Hancock Adams Common tree lighting
A day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, Nov. 24, Quincy will celebrate its annual tree lighting ceremony on Hancock Adams Common from 5 to 7 p.m.
In addition to the stunning display of lights, Victorian carolers will fill the common with old-world merriment as free hot chocolate and popcorn is distributed to winter revelers.
In addition, St. Paul's Choir of Cambridge and Quincy Catholic Academy Youth Choir will give special performances.
At about 6:15 p.m., Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch and mayor of the North Pole, Nicholas S. Claus, will flip a ceremonial switch to officially begin the holiday season.
The tree lighting will also be recorded by QATV and shown at a later time.
Quincy Christmas Parade
For the 70th year, floats, marching bands, costumed characters and vehicles of interest will traverse 2.7 miles of Hancock Street from Hannon Parkway to North Quincy High School on Sunday, Nov. 26, from noon to 3:30 p.m.
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The theme for this year's float competition, "Candy Cane Dreams," was submitted by Quincy resident Mia Sorgi and selected from more than 30 entries.
The Quincy tradition was founded through the efforts of the Rev. Thomas Tierney in 1952. The Rev. Tierney was so active and enthusiastic about the parade that he became known as the parade priest, according to a documentary produced by Quincy Access Television in 1991.
The Rev. Tierney would invite youth marching bands from surrounding cities and towns to perform in the parade, and this is still an important element of the parade 70 years later.
The event will be shown live on QATV, and can be streamed online.
The parade is organized by The Quincy Christmas Festival Committee.
Opening of the Generals Park outdoor ice skating rink
On Dec. 1, a seasonal outdoor skating rink will open to the public at the Generals Bridge and Park downtown.
Ice time is free, as are the skates. Read all the details here.
The fully refrigerated, 120-by-60-foot ice rink will be built and managed by Ice Rink Events, which operates the rink at New York City's famed Bryant Park.
Generals Park tree lighting
On Dec. 3, at 5 p.m., a second downtown tree lighting will take place at Dunford Drive and McConville Way, near the Generals Bridge and Park.
The ceremony will honor active and retired military personnel. Loved ones can adorn the tree with yellow ribbons bearing the names of their family and friends who have served or are now serving in the military.
The tree lighting will be recorded by QATV and shown at a later time.
''Tis the Season' holiday pops concert
The Quincy Symphony Orchestra, the combined Quincy High School Choral Group and the John Adams Orchestra will give a concert at the Lloyd Hill Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the concert, presented by the Quincy School-Community Partnership and Mayor Koch, are $20. A package including a three-course dinner at Presidents Cafe inside the high school and VIP seating is available for $40. Dinner seating begins at 5 p.m.
Tickets are only available at Quincy Public Schools administration building at 34 Coddington St. For information, call 617-984-8731.
QATV will show the concert live on television and stream it online.
Christmas gathering at the creche
A ceremony including prayers and Christmas caroling is planned for 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the manger scene at Hancock Cemetery next to the Old Town Hall.
Lighting of the first Hanukkah candle
On Dec. 7, the first night of Hanukkah, Rabbi Alfred Benjamin of the Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills, in Milton, will light the first candle on the menorah.
Rabbi Benjamin will narrate the story of Hanukkah and lead attendants in traditional Hanukkah songs.
Neighborhood tree-lighting festivities
In addition to the downtown tree lightings at the Hancock Adams Common and Generals Bridge and Park, the following neighborhoods will host their own ceremonies.
Squantum: Sunday, Nov. 26, at 4:30 p.m. at the island where East Squantum Street, Huckins Avenue and Newland Street converge.
Wollaston: Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. at Safford Park off Beale Street.
Adams Shore: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Curlew Road rotary.
South Quincy: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in front of the Fort Square Presbyterian Church at 16 Pleasant St.
Quincy Point: Sunday, Dec. 3, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Fore River rotary.
Germantown: Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. at the rotary.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy holiday events – from Santa coming by helicopter to the parade
