Lewes Christmas parade, tree lighting and caroling set Dec. 3

The 90th annual Lewes Christmas parade, presented by the City of Lewes and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, will step off at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3. The parade will kick off in its new starting place at the main entrance to the Lewes Elementary School parking lot on Savannah Road, and progress down Savannah to Second Street, ending in front of King’s Ice Cream shop.

Immediately following the parade, the public is invited to join Mayor Andrew Williams as he officially illuminates the Christmas tree in Zwaanendael Park, followed by candlelight caroling in the park led by Christy Taylor with some of her music students. For the seventh year, the city has made arrangements to have a fresh-cut tree moved into the park. Pat and Pat Henry donated the 30-foot evergreen tree. Sussex Tree donated the time and equipment to transport the tree to the park and install it.

When the mayor lights the tree, he will be doing so with a ceremonial switch fabricated in 2020 by Ed Tessein for Lewes Lights and its inaugural opening ceremony on Sussex Drive. The switch is 5 feet tall by 2 1/2 feet wide. Lessen designed the oversized wood switch and incorporated a custom magnetic mechanism that holds the switch in an upright position. The Lewes Lights switch sits in front of Tessein’s house on Sussex Drive each year in December for spectators to view and provides a holiday photo opportunity. Both Ed and Kathy Tessein and Lewes Lights organizers are thrilled that this switch has a new purpose in 2022 in illuminating the Lewes Christmas tree, while simultaneously declaring the official start of Lewes Lights. To learn more, go to LewesLights.org.

Christy Taylor has been leading the caroling in Zwaanendael Park with students from her music school for more than 30 years. This year, for the first time, Taylor Music Studio instrumental students will join vocal students. Participating performers include Dylan Thomas on piano and vocals; Grace Thomas on bass and vocals; Jack Thomas on drums and trumpet; Keenan Williams on guitar; Bodhi Williams on djembe drum; and special vocalists Sara Freih, Sophi Swier and Tarraye Sturgis.

The sound equipment and operation for both the parade announcers and the caroling are provided by Mark Taylor of Taylor Music Studio.