By the time it was over, half the New Haven Green was full of people, all cheering for the same thing.
But at 4:30 p.m., there was only a hint of how full the Green would be. It started quietly enough. The city blocked off Temple Street and a lone vendor sold glowsticks to a delighted child. But on the Green, they were preparing a horse and carriage.
The earliest arrivals lined up to visit Santa.
Animatronic reindeer and polar bears began parading children in the circle around the flagpole.
The New Haven Public Library’s bookmobile turned on its lights. The Lions Club started handing out free cider. The food vendors opened for business.
And the lights went on all over the carousel equipment the city brought in.
Over at the petting zoo, tiny kids chased goats while the bigger folks who accompanied them had the chance to feed a camel.
A lot of other kids swerved and dodged through the hay maze.
In the bandstand, choirs sang, one after the other, filling the air with the sounds of their harmonies and clapping hands, for audiences that kept getting bigger and bigger.
The vendors got busier and busier.
By the time it was dark, you could say everything was in full swing.
As the moon rose from behind the buildings on Elm Street, people began to gather around the tree to wait for the lighting.
A few minutes later, Mayor Toni Harp appeared in the bandstand, along with the master of ceremonies, who got everyone to count down. “Let’s start at eight!” he said. “Eight!” everyone said. “Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” On the tree, 40,000 bulbs blinked on at once, and everyone cheered.
Afterward, people stayed to take pictures.
Or just to admire all those colors glowing away all around them.
Besides, with everything still happening on the Green, there was no real reason to leave just yet.
