Pratt & Whitney Helps Kick Off Middletown's 28th Annual Holiday on Main

A array of festivities kicked off the 28th annual Holiday on Main in Middletown, Conn., on Friday, Nov. 29, including the lighting of four trees along Main Street, a parade, refreshments, hayrides, a visit by the Berenstain Bears, a carol sing and much more.

Led by the Middletown High School Marching Band and the Woodrow Wilson Middle School eighth-grade band, the parade marched down Main, escorting Mayor Dan Drew, Alexandria Palmer, 2014 Miss Middlesex County Outstanding Teen for the Miss America Organization; Heather Summerer, manager of Corporate Social Responsibility & Company Events for the event's sponsor, Pratt & Whitney; and Santa Claus, via horse and carriage for the tree lighting on the South Green.

After recognizing 18 third-grade Middletown students on stage for their good citizenship, good behavior, respect for others and demonstrating the spirit of giving, two trees were lit - one in the Veterans Memorial Gazebo and the other in the center of the green - the parade marched back up Main toward the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce office, where Drew, Palmer and Summerer attended the lighting of the chamber tree atop the building. Another tree lighting took place later in the evening in front of Eli Cannon's Tap Room.

Free pictures with Santa, courtesy of Pratt & Whitney, took place in front of the chamber, as festivities continued all around. Amato's Toy and Hobby's windows brought back traditional storefront holiday scenes reminiscent of years past, and featured their third annual holiday train exhibit. With music playing up and down Main Street, families enjoyed popcorn, hot pretzels, hot chocolate, coffee and desserts, a Middletown High School Art Club exhibit and charitable drives.

"The Middlesex Chamber of Commerce has done a tremendous job of planning Holiday on Main," said Summerer. "This is the perfect event to kick off the holiday season in Middlesex County, and Pratt & Whitney is proud to sponsor the festivities."

The event, which ran from 4 to 8:15 p.m., also took place on Nov. 30 and will continue on Dec. 7 and 14. For a full listing of events, visit holidayonmain.com.