Wilmot Lions/Lioness Club prepares for 42nd annual Tree of Light celebration
- Galen Simmons
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The holiday season in Wilmot always seems to begin the same way – with music in the air, families gathering downtown and a tree lighting that has become one of the community’s longest-running and most heart-warming traditions.
That moment returns Friday, Dec. 5, when the Wilmot Lions and Lioness clubs host their 42nd annual Tree of Light ceremony beside the Centennial Fountain in New Hamburg. The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. and everyone is invited. As always, volunteers will be handing out complimentary hot dogs and apple cider, and the evening will feature singalongs, performances and the crowd-favourite lighting of the tree. A $5 donation lights a bulb, with all proceeds supporting Wilmot families, charities and community groups.
For the Lions and Lioness clubs, this event is far more than a festive gathering – it is part of the township’s identity. Organizer Paul Mackie said the ceremony has become “the start of the Christmas season in our community,” something residents have counted on for more than four decades.
“Once the tree lights up, after 42 years, it sets the tone for the season and adds some colour and cheer to the downtown core of New Hamburg,” he said.
The Tree of Light has evolved over the years. From 1983 onward, six natural pine trees served as the centrepiece of the celebration, but keeping live trees healthy became more difficult. In 2022, the clubs introduced a new 18-foot, flagpole-style tree adorned with more than 30 strands of multi-coloured lights. The structure was designed and built locally by Cress Ridge Machine and Tool, and Mackie said the company continues to play a key role each year in setting up the landmark display.
The heart of the ceremony, however, lies in what it gives back. Through corporate sponsorships and individual donations, the event has raised more than $375,000 over 41 years for organizations such as the Wilmot Family Resource Centre, Interfaith Counselling Centre, Camino Wellbeing and Mental Health, HopeSpring, the New Hamburg Firebirds, local soccer and skating programs, and the New Hamburg Concert Band. Funds have also supported community projects including the Wilmot Recreation Complex, the splash pad and the LYNC – Love Your Neighbour – initiative.
The night will again feature a beloved tradition: a recitation of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” For years, the poem was delivered from memory by Robert Edwards, whose gentle voice became familiar to generations of families. Edwards passed away earlier this year. To honour him, Mackie said a new volunteer – “another very proud, gentle man” – has been practicing for months so the tradition can continue.
Children will have their chance to get involved, too. The Snow Angel colouring contest returns with pages available through local schools, the New Hamburg and Baden libraries, and both post offices. Participants are asked to bring their coloured pages to the ceremony and drop them into a wrapped box near the stage. Five names will be drawn with prizes awarded on the spot.
Music will be a major part of the evening. The New Hamburg Concert Band will return with a selection of seasonal favourites and, joining them for the first time, will be Mixology Acappella, a group of up to 15 singers from Kitchener, Waterloo and Wilmot.
“They’ll be bringing an exciting and entertaining blend of Christmas songs and carols,” Mackie said.
Donation jars will be available for anyone wishing to contribute and the clubs are hoping for what Mackie described as “a perfect evening – not too cold, not windy and a light snowfall” to welcome the 2025 Christmas season in true Wilmot fashion.