November 30, 2020 submitted by Mona K. Pohl on behalf of the Downtown Hingham Association (photos courtesy of Lynn Barclay, Executive Director of the HDA)
As we all know, the holidays are looking and feeling a little different this year. Some of our annual traditions are on hiatus, including Hingham’s beloved Christmas in the Square, which has been delighting everyone for 40 years. The town is committed to following the state guidelines and mandates, and large gatherings are prohibited until Phase 4 of the Massachusetts Reopening Plan. Instead of emphasizing what won’t be happening—for obvious reasons -- there is a bright side for everyone to know about and something for all to enjoy in Downtown this season.
There will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate and offer a warm, socially-distanced holiday greeting to your community. So, bundle up, put on your mask and venture Downtown throughout December to experience the delight of the season in this incredibly charming, quintessential New England town we call home.
Stroll down the streets lined with lampposts adorned in a variety of white and evergreen garlands and white lights in celebration of both Christmas and Hanukkah, pop into the beautifully decorated stores to select unique gifts, and then grab something to eat. While you’re at it, kids can drop off their letters to Santa --express to the North Pole -- in the designated mailbox in front of La Petite Maison on the corner of Main and North Streets. Don’t forget to clearly write names and return addresses on the envelopes because Santa has been known to respond to some of his letters from children in Hingham! After you drop your letters, have some fun taking photos with the nearby Holly Jolly character cut-outs.
Supporting local is more important than ever and tackling shopping lists with an array of small stores brimming with tastefully and creatively curated items can actually be enjoyable. Whether it’s whimsical, sentimental, humorous, artsy, or practical, you’ll find just the right thing on Thursday, December 3 and December 10, during special shopping nights when stores will stay open until 8:00 p.m. Your evening will be more of an event than just shopping with music of the season playing throughout the Square and the opportunity to watch a talented ice sculptor create a waving Santa from a giant block of ice.
As Christmas draws closer, Downtown will become even more enchanting and meaningful with the annual Luminaria Festival on Thursday, December 17 and Friday December 18. Both evenings, the Square will be aglow with Luminaria candle bags - each bag will be paired with a canned good to benefit the Hingham Food Pantry. Help light up the Square with Luminaria bags that can be purchased by individuals or families with a donation of $20. Add a special touch by including your name, holiday greeting or in-memory-of message with the bag to create a new holiday tradition for your family. Luminaria bags can be purchased at www.discoverhingham.com.
“The mingling, large groups of kids awaiting Santa’s arrival on a fire truck, watching the classic It’s a Wonderful Life projected onto a tunnel cap wall, and all the festivities of Christmas in the Square will surely be missed this year, but December in Downtown will still feel very much like the holidays,” said Lynn Barclay, executive director of The Hingham Downtown Association (HDA). “Though it can’t be the same experience as we’ve had every year, we will keep up the tradition of bringing fun, joy, warmth, grace, and hope of the season safely to the entire community.”
For more information visit: www.discoverhingham.com.