Page 4 • Wednesday , December 7 , 2022 • The Hammonton Gazette
Town Christmas tree is lit in downtown Hammonton
TREE , from Page 1 downtown Hammonton .
“[ The tree lighting ] is very important , we ’ re excited about it , it gets all the businesses involved and brings people over from the other side of the tracks ,” Ranello said .
At the Hammonton Family Success Center on 310 Bellevue Avenue , the event also featured carriage rides , with two carriages of horses and buggies fitting four and six people , respectively . Tickets were purchased inside the Success Center building , with tickets priced at $ 10 each with children ten years and younger riding for free .
MainStreet Outreach chairperson Jackie Cappuccio , who helped run the carriage rides , believes it is a great time to be in Hammonton and that people look forward to the annual event ,
THG / Joseph F . Berenato . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Francesca Jacobs , of Swimming Free Studio , offered crocheted items at the Mistletoe Mart on December 3 .
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Antique Marketplace welcomed Santa Claus ahead of MainStreet Hammonton Downtown Tree Lighting on December 3 .
especially the carriage rides .
“ People look for [ the carriage rides ] every year , they just keep telling me that they enjoy this so much and we have a lot of young kids , families , a lot of grandparents involved so it ’ s good ,” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio was also impressed with the turnout for the carriage rides , which saw some traffic during the festivities but saw an uptick in people coming after the Christmas tree was lit .
“ It has been good , it has been a steady flow and we ’ re still going . Santa ’ s gone so people are working their way down here so we ’ re doing good ,” Cappuccio said .
Kelbie-Jo DeCesero of Tales of the Olive said she knows that the tree lighting is an exciting event for the community . DeCesero and the rest of the Tales of the Olive staff use this event to help get everyone into the holiday spirit , helping them shop and get more gift ideas before Santa Claus comes .
“ It ’ s always such an exciting event every year . I know a lot of the parents look forward to it , a lot of the kids do and it really rings in the holiday season ,” DeCesero said .
With Exit 28 Boutique in its first year as a business in downtown Hammonton , owner April Carnesale and her daughter , Christina Carnesale , appreciate the support that the community has for small businesses like them and try to pay it back .
“ I think it ’ s important to let them know that we ’ re here for them as much as they are here for us and we try to show them that same appreciation and support ,” April Carnesale said .
The Mistletoe Mart was set up on Bellevue and Central Avenues . It featured vendors ranging from the Historical Society of Hammonton , art painting , holiday ornaments and craft vendors . A life-sized Santa sleigh filled with wrapped presents was set up in front of the vendors as well as two bonfires with chairs surrounding it to give guests a comfortable and warm feel as the weather started getting cold as the night progressed .
The Historical Society of Hammonton had a children ’ s mystery book sale to help publicize the Historical Society to the town . The books were gently used books of all different ages from ages 1-16 and were donated by the community , selling them from $ 1 to $ 3 . Historical Society of Hammonton ’ s trustee Debra White said she knows how important an event like this is to
See LIGHTING , Page 18
THG / Joseph F . Berenato . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Members of Paul Morris DanceXplosion performed a number from “ The Nutcracker : All Jazz ’ d Up .”