Kennett Collaborative’s plans for Christmas in Kennett 2022 will focus on creating magical moments and making Kennett Square a festive and welcoming place for everyone throughout the holiday season.
The Christmas in Kennett plan for 2022 accentuates the town’s historic charm that’s particularly delightful over the holidays. With generous anchor sponsorship from Longwood Gardens, we’re excited to introduce new lighting, décor, and beautiful horticultural displays to celebrate the season in Longwood Gardens’ hometown. Like Kennett Blooms in the spring, Christmas in Kennett is a program designed to lift the spirits of local residents, welcome visitors, and support our small retail business owners and restauranteurs.”
The large and brightly lit town Christmas tree is Kennett Collaborative’s traditional gift to the town.
Sticker shock
For three years now, Kennett Collaborative has wrapped a dozen of the large trees on State Street as part of its “Light Up the Square” program. The tree lights will look different this year. The original lights, which we’ve patched and maintained over the past several years, need to come off this year for the health of the trees. Unfortunately, the cost of lights and labor have gone up so significantly that we’re unable to sustain this program. The tree lights received a lot of love and community support, and Gareth Peoples and his crew at Treemendous Tree Care did a beautiful job. But we experienced sticker shock when we learned that the cost to wrap just eight trees with lights this year would cost nearly $30,000.
In addition, the trucks on State Street consistently wreak havoc, damaging the lights within days of installation, and each call-out for repairs costs hundreds of dollars. Kennett Collaborative has subsidized the cost of the trees in past years to make up the difference in fundraising, but with the increased costs it’s not a wise use of limited resources.
Longwood Gardens has provided generous anchor sponsorship to kick off the Christmas in Kennett 2022 fundraising campaign.
Christmas in Kennett 2022
While the tree lights created a particularly beautiful sight for those driving through town at night, the shops and restaurants are the heart and soul of the town. So this year we’re focusing instead on making the pedestrian experience during the day as festive and beautiful as possible and installing additional lighting that will create brighter sidewalks for people walking, shopping, and dining after dark.
The large and brightly lit town Christmas tree is Kennett Collaborative’s traditional gift to the town. In addition to wrapping the lampposts with lighted garland, Christmas in Kennett 2022 will add new lighting and bring back the large professionally designed holiday planters at the major intersections on State Street.
Christmas in Kennett 2022 will also include a selfie station, a winter-themed floral installation similar to those created for Floral Flash, and a few surprises. A particular focus this year is on fun and creative additions to the Genesis Walkway—a central space that welcomes people to Kennett Square.
Christmas in Kennett 2022 will focus on making the pedestrian experience during the day as festive and beautiful as possible, in addition to installing lighting that will create brighter sidewalks for people walking, shopping, and dining after dark.
The more the merrier: Community support for Christmas in Kennett
Community support for the Christmas in Kennett fundraising campaign is vitally important. The more we raise, the more we can do to bring light and beauty to Kennett Square for the holidays as well as for the long winter months ahead.
Corien Siepelinga, artist and owner of Square Pear Gallery, is once again creating personalized ornaments featuring the names of sponsors, or the names of those in whose honor or memory donations are given, for all donations of $150 and above. These ornaments will decorate the community tree next to the Franklin Building on State Street. Our community tree has been one of the most popular elements of our Christmas in Kennett program and we love celebrating our donors in this way.
Those who wish to make a tax-deductible donation to bring holiday magic to Kennett Square this season, can click here to donate.
The magical Kennett Square Holiday Village Market at The Creamery is one of many holiday events in town this year.
A full calendar of holiday events
The holiday décor will create a welcoming ambience for a full calendar of holiday events. The 10th anniversary Kennett Square Holiday Light Parade and Tree Lighting kicks off the season on Friday, November 25th at 6:15pm, followed by a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus on the porch at Work2gether. The parade will follow a new route this year, heading north on the 100 block of South Broad Street and then west on State Street to Center Street.
On Small Business Saturday, November 26th, shoppers will find special discounts throughout town and the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for everyone on their lists. Far from the crowds of chain stores and malls, Kennett Square’s collection of unique shops and boutiques offer a unique and festive shopping experience. “A strong community and local economy depend on people patronizing locally owned shops, restaurants, and service providers all year round. We encourage everyone to shop small for the holidays. Longwood Gardens’ Christmas in Kennett shuttle (Longwood ticket required) will run between the Gardens and Kennett Square on five Saturdays, November 19th through December 17th.
The magical Kennett Square Holiday Village Market returns to The Creamery (401 Birch Street, Kennett Square) on the first two weekends in December with artisan and vintage shopping, ice sculpture demonstrations, live music, s’mores, fire pits, Santa Claus, handcrafted and warming festive drinks and cocktails, and more. Saturday and Sunday December 3rd and 4th and 10th and 11th, from 11am to 5pm all four days.
Check out the Kennett Collaborative website (KennettCollaborative.org) and social media channels for updated information on Tinsel on the Town and other festive holiday shopping events.
Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Christmas in Kennett 2022.
