Christmas tree lighting festivities return to Newfield

Yes, Virginia, there will be a Christmas tree lighting on Main Street in Newfield this year. The return of this annual holiday tradition, complete with festivities, is scheduled for Dec. 4 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Jamie Drader, who originally conceived of and coordinated this event back in 2018, is pleased to see it continue.

“There was a tree lighting last year, but it was only that due to COVID,” Drader said. “There was no food or music and no gathering. Since people are out and about again, we went back to the full scale of activities this year. Weather permitting, almost everything will be outside.”

Refreshments will be available, including hot dogs, chili, cocoa and, of course, Christmas cookies. Community members are invited to sing carols along with DJ Gavin Trask and decorate the tree with ornaments, either their own or ones that have been collected over the years.

Karen Trask has been part of the team organizing the event since the start. She and her mother decorate the Masonic Temple each year on Black Friday. The garlands, wreaths and red bows add to the festive atmosphere.

“Special guests Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be present and available for photos, or children may choose to write a letter to Santa,” Trask said. “The Masons made a special mailbox for the letters to Santa, and Sue Chaffee at the library makes sure they get delivered to the proper address.”

Truly a community effort, this free holiday event involves many individuals, businesses and organizations who donate their goods and services to make it possible.

“The Fire Department shuts down Main Street to traffic from Shaffer Road to Pearl Street,” Trask said. “Rob at the Covered Bridge Market donates the hot dogs, and the Lioness makes the cookies. The Masons open up the Temple, and members serve hot cocoa. Everything is free, and everyone is welcome.”

Fittnell Farms Barbeque, a catering company located in Newfield, has provided the chili for the past three years, while the town Highway Department does its part by transporting and setting up the tree on the day before the event.

Unlike the tree at Rockefeller Center, there is no mystery about where the Newfield Christmas tree will come from. Mark Ramos, owner of the Fir Farm on Shaffer Road, has donated the town’s tree every December. Ramos planted his first trees there in 1991 and puts in about 1,200 new seedlings each year, so there are trees of every size on his U-cut lot, as well as fresh-cut wreaths, Stand-Straight drilled tree stands and honey products from White Dog Apiary.

“Roy Trask and his family always get their tree here,” Ramos said. “When he asked if I would donate a tree for the lighting ceremony a few years back, I was happy to get involved.”

Drader said the inspiration for the tree lighting was a Hallmark movie his wife made him watch, but she was the reason the idea was put into action.

“I made the comment that it was too bad community events like those in the movie didn’t happen much anymore,” Drader said. “She called me on it and said if I really felt that way, I should do something about it.”

Beginning with a small group of Drader’s family and friends, the event has grown and spread organically. Asked if the event has lived up to his expectations, Drader said there have been a few “Hallmark moments,” but his favorite was in 2018.

“The year before my Dad passed, he was very sick,” Drader said. “My sisters put him in the car and set him up in the bank parking lot so he could watch the tree lighting. If you knew my dad, he was all about Newfield for his whole life. It made him happy because he could see the town was alive.”

A different moment stood out for Trask. She recalled one year when 12 alumni of Newfield High School from a particular graduating class ran into each other at the tree lighting.

“They all still lived in the area but never got together,” Trask said. “They were so excited and asked to have a group picture taken in front of the tree.”

Drader said that he loves coordinating the event and does it for the kids.

“No one is in it for the praise, but I did receive a special thank-you letter from Mary Humpton a couple of years ago,” Drader said.

Another Newfield legend who died in 2021, Humpton was known and loved by many as a teacher, guidance counselor, library trustee, mentor and friend.

“She said she’d read about the tree lighting and thought it was a nice thing for the community,” Drader said. “Coming from her, it meant a lot.”

Newfield Notes is published every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.