Annual Belmont Christmas Tree Lighting Dec. 1

Charles Dickens wrote that the holiday spirit lasts the entire year but in Belmont, the holidays will officially begin on Thursday, Dec. 1 at Belmont's 21th annual 'Turn on the Town' Holiday Celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Leonard Street in Belmont Center.

The celebration is sponsored by the Belmont Center Business Association.

Tree lighting will be at 6:30 p.m. And Santa will arrive by fire truck at 6:30 p.m. and stay to mingle with his Belmont friends, having his picture taken with good children - and even a few parents - at the Belmont Savings Bank.

Belmont merchants will offer treats, glow necklaces, jingle bells and more. Festivities will include: holiday crafts, hot cocoa, and face painting, as well as cupcake decorating and visits by Frosty and Rudolph. Belmont High School musicians will carol in the streets. 

It will also be a Night of Giving: Residents are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or unwrapped gift to the charity table in front of Il Casale restaurant to be donated to the Belmont Food Pantry.