Home Event

2025 Lighting of the Merry Maple

By

Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple
Friday, December 5th, 2025
3 – 6 PM
Amherst North Common

Join the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, the Amherst Business Improvement District, and the Town of Amherst for a magical kickoff to the winter season! Downtown Amherst transforms into a festive winter wonderland for the Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple, co-presented by bankESB and Amherst College.

Join us for an evening of live performances, crafts, horse-drawn carriage rides, caroling, and the much-anticipated Lighting of the Merry Maple!

Schedule of Events

🚒 3–6 PM: Amherst Fire Department Open House

✂️ 3–5 PM: Crafts and games with Amherst Recreation, including sensory-friendly activities

📚 3–5 PM: Crafts with the Jones Library; Storytime at 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM in Town Hall (1st Floor Meeting Room)

🐴 4 PM On: Horse-drawn carriage rides with Muddy Brook Farm (pauses during the Marching Band performance)

♫ 4 PM: Caroling downtown by the UMass Treble Choir and the Amherst College Zumbyes

🎶 4:30 PM: Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus performance on the steps of Town Hall

🌟 5:00 PM: Official Merry Maple Tree Lighting Countdown on the steps of Town Hall

🌈 5:10 PM: Amherst Community Theater performance on the steps of Town Hall

🎅⛄ 5:30 PM: Santa and Flakey the Snowfriend arrive by Fire Truck

🎺 5:30–6 PM: UMass Minuteman Marching Band performance on the Common

MGM Springfield to Usher in Holiday Season

By
Daily News

 

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield will ring in the holiday season on Nov. 26 with its annual tree lighting ceremony to mark the opening of its Holiday Winter Wonderland on Armory Square, featuring the city’s only outdoor skating rink.

Guests are invited to join the celebration beginning at 6 p.m., led by MGM Resorts Northeast Group President and COO Chris Kelley and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. There will be special appearances by the Dan Kane Singers, the New England Patriots Cheerleaders, and Santa Claus.

A hot chocolate bar and festive adult beverages will be available, along with a special to-go menu from TAP Sports Bar. Local favorite Hot Oven Cookies will also have its food truck on location.

Tickets for the ice rink can be purchased in person. Hours are: Monday and Tuesday, closed; Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

The MGM Springfield Skating Rink will be open Nov. 26 to Jan. 2. Holiday hours are 4 p.m.-10 p.m. on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

A coordinated holiday tree light and music show will be on display every hour on the hour from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, from Nov. 26t through Jan. 2.