'Grand Illumination' in Bristol Ends Thanksgiving Weekend

The annual Bristol Christmas Festival, including the always much anticipated “Grand Illumination” of a downtown Christmas tree, takes place tomorrow, Dec. 1, at the end of a long Thanksgiving weekend.

The Grand Illumination ceremony starts at 6 pm in front of the Burnside Building on Hope Street next to Town Hall. Hundreds of onlookers are expected to watch the lighting of the tree. 

The ceremony includes much more than illuminating a tree, though. It includes caroling, music and entertainment that kicks off about an hour before the illumination. 

St. Michael’s Church Bell Choir will entertain at the start of the ceremony. There will be the traditional reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” with accompaniment by the Colt Andrews Choir Group.

The finale of the illumination ceremony will be a Christmas music sing-along, including “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and a live nativity scene presented by St. Michael’s Church.

The Christmas Festival actually starts much earlier in the day at Mt. Hope High School with a breakfast with Santa Claus at 8 am and children’s activities until noon. 

There will be a children’s finger-printing booth, photos with Santa, an ornament workshop, balloon twisting and face painting, a Noah’s Ark workshop, a drug awareness booth, and a magic show described as “family friendly.”

The festival then adjourns for a few hours before resuming at 4:15 pm with holiday music provided by Rhythm Quest Percussion.