Light the Dale Brings Holiday Magic to Scarsdale

Despite the chilly evening, a wonderful crowd of Scarsdale residents bundled up and headed to the Village Center on Friday, December 5 for the annual Light The Dale celebration. From the moment the festivities kicked off at 5pm, the air was filled with holiday music, laughter, and the scent of delicious treats. Hosted by the Scarsdale Parks and Recreation Department, the event was a heartwarming success and a true community celebration.

Boniface Circle buzzed with activity as community sponsored booths handed out goodies, crafts, and treasures. Food trucks lined Chase Road, serving up delicious hot bites that added to the festive atmosphere. Fan favorites included the Scarsdale Fire Department and Volunteer Fire Company, who shared popcorn, pretzels, and plenty of smiles, while Sparky the Dalmatian mascot offered high fives and hugs to delighted children. Scarsdale Action for Youth drew a crowd at their spinning prize wheel, and the Police Department won over everyone with steaming cups of hot chocolate. The Ambulance Corps showcased fun gear, and the Weinberg Nature Center offered seeds for residents to pot and take home. A fantastic face painting booth added an extra splash of color and cheer.

At 5:15pm, the crowd gathered for the long-awaited lighting of the village tree and menorah. The Scarsdale High School a cappella group, For Good Measure, opened with festive songs, followed by the Scarsdale Middle School Vocal Group. The highlight came when both groups joined together for a joyful, blended performance. Mayor Justin Arest welcomed everyone and introduced Rabbi Jonathan Blake of Westchester Reform Temple, who offered blessings for the season. A surprise guest, Congressman George Latimer, shared warm wishes and even led attendees in a crowd-pleasing sing-along of “Let It Snow.”

Then, the moment every child waited for arrived: Santa Claus rolled in on a roaring fire truck, settling into his sleigh for photos and Christmas wish-lists. Before he arrived, there was a drawing of a name from the audience to have the honor of pressing the big candy cane striped button that lit up the Village tree and menorah. 
George Dragisity, a second grader at Fox Meadow School was selected and he drew cheers from the crowd as the lights sparkled to life.

Meanwhile, a Scarsdale “Polar Express” trackless train delighted families on Harwood Court, complete with holiday music, inflatable decorations, and even a magical dusting of snow.

Though the temperature hovered around 30 degrees, spirits were anything but chilly. The glow of holiday lights reflected off smiling faces, and laughter echoed through the Village.

Even on a wintry night, the Light the ‘Dale event filled the Village with warmth, joy and a wonderful sense of community, making the season feel especially bright.

Commenting on the event, Scarsdale Supervisor of Parks and Recreation Brian Gray said, “The Light the Dale Tree and Menorah Lighting to bring in the holiday season is an “all hands on deck” event for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.

This year we begin set-up at 1PM on Thursday and work all day Friday setting up. This year’s cold temperatures definitely played a factor in staff comfort, but we warn them ahead of time to keep an eye on the weather and dress accordingly. We provide a hand and toe warmers as well as a warming tent for those that need a quick break from the cold temps. Thankfully the cold was all we were dealing with and it wasn’t windy, snowing or raining.

Power logistics is a job in itself, as we do not only light the tree and menorah. Each activity booth has a power need, as well as the over 25 inflatable’s, snow machines and lighting we deploy throughout the venue. This is performed through power on the light poles, our main power box in Boniface and numerous low-noise generators.

The following Village Departments are instrumental in the success of the event:

-Village Manager’s Office
-Department of DPW
-Facility Maintenance Department
-Police Department
-Fire Department
-Scarvac

Other Village Sponsored organizations assist with activity/refreshment booths including:

-Scarsdale Library
-Scarsdale Action for Youth (Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling)
-Weinberg Nature Center
-Scarsdale Department of PRC

In addition to department full time starr, we hire many part timers to assist with activity booths, trackless train, Santa’s arrival, set-up and break-down and clean-up (overall approximately 25 staff members).

I thank all staff, volunteers and elected officials that make this event a success. Happy Holidays.”