Holiday Tree Lighting and Hanukkah Celebration

The annual Holiday Tree Lighting* and Hanukkah Celebration will be on Sunday, December 14, 4:45 pm, at the Luzerne/Glen Ross island. Note: Rain date is Monday, December 15, 6:00 pm.

The celebration begins at sundown with the lighting of the menorah, a holiday singalong and tree lighting, visit from Santa Claus, and refreshments, including latkes (potato pancakes) and hot cider. Scroll down for the program and song sheet.

The first night of Hanukkah this year is December 14, so the first candle of the neighborhood menorah will be lit that evening and lighting the remaining candles will continue for eight nights. If you would like to help with setting up or cleaning up, preparing refreshments, posting street closure signs, or any other aspect of this event, please contact Melinda Frederick, program coordinator.

SSL service hours will be available to MCPS students who volunteer for this event.

The NWCA community will be notified via the listserv of any event updates. Donations to defray the costs will be gratefully received at the event or online.

Singers Wanted: Our Tree Singers group performs holiday music at the above event, and we’re always looking for new members. It is a cappella four-part harmony, so some choral experience and music reading skill is helpful. I can give you music in advance. We usually have two rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the event. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me. Thank you! – Julie Lees


* Recent historic newspaper research suggests that this year is the 99th anniversary of the first community holiday tree lighting in 1926. Wow, the tradition is much older than we realized!

Photos: 2024 Menorah & Tree Lighting

North Woodside’s 2024 Menorah and Tree Lighting. Scroll down to view more photos.

In spite of the ominous weather forecast,  the 76th (or perhaps longer) annual NWCA Menorah and Tree Lighting event went on as planned on Sunday, December 15, 2024. 

The rain abated and a good number of neighbors gathered to eat latkes and drink hot cider, hear beautiful choral holiday songs by the Tree Singers, and have a visit with and treats from Santa!

Also attending the event was Maryland State Senator Jeff Waldstreicher and neighbors from the Lyttonsville and Rosemary Hills.

They say that many hands make for light work. That is true!

Many thanks to the many neighbors who contributed to the event in one or more of the following ways: led and participated in the Tree Singers, shared the story of Hanukkah, said the blessing and lit the menorah, made delicious latkes and cider, strung the lights on the tree, got PEPCO to turn on the electricity, helped with set up and clean up and serving food, took photos and more! Thanks also to Snider’s for donating the oranges. And to Santa ;).

If anyone who attended but didn’t have money to donate, you can make a donation via the NWCA website here. (Choose “Holiday Fund” from the drop down menu.)

Happy holidays!

2023 Menorah & Tree Lighting

75th Holiday Tree Lighting and 6th Hanukkah Celebration
When: Monday, December 11 at 7:00 pm
Where: Intersection of Luzerne Ave. and Glen Ross Rd.

The dual event features latkes (potato pancakes), hot cider, music, and Santa.

Fyi, the following streets will be closed to traffic, starting at 6:45 pm:
* Luzerne Ave. between 2nd Ave. and Columbia Blvd.
* Glen Ross Rd. between 2nd Ave. and Columbia Blvd.

Note: As the first night of Hanukkah this year is Thursday, December 7, the menorah will be put up before the 7th, and each evening the appropriate number of lights will be lit.

Happy Holidays!

To all who celebrate the various holidays of the season…Happy Hanukkah!…Happy Solstice!…Merry Christmas!…Happy Kwanzaa!…Happy New Year!

Here are a few photos of last weekend’s community Menorah Lighting, which was followed by the community Tree Lighting and a visit from Santa. Photos by Genevieve McDowell Owen, Phyllida Paterson, and Rebecca Doran

Many thanks to all the neighbors who contributed their time, talents and resources to the event. It takes a village!

And for those who missed, a new song sung at the event:

Woodside Wassail (words by David Kitzmiller)

Wassail, wassail, all over the town!
Our punch, it is red, and our cookies, they are brown.
The goodies are spread by the old Christmas tree,
From the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee!

Here’s to North Woodside Civic so good,
Which strives to keep order in this neighborhood.
From 16th to Linden, all’s well we will say;
So we’re gathered together to brighten this day!

Wassail, wassail all over Woodside!
Remember your neighbors in this wintertide.
At Luzerne and Glen Ross, we’ll now light our tree,
From the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee!

Light and love to all. And stay warm–the northern winds sure are a blowin’ out there!