Last night, downtown Ridgefield was nothing short of magical. Thousands of residents descended upon our picturesque Main Street to ring in the holiday season with song, sparkle, and Santa!
First Selectman Rudy Marconi elicited loud cheers from the huge crowd when he said, “Do we have a great town? I can’t hear you, do we have a great town?”
The event was joyfully emceed by Ira Joe Fisher (who joked that Santa Claus was a bit delayed because of the bridge work on Route 35) and featured musical performances by Ridgefield High School Choir and the RHS a capella group, the Nightingales.
Nine-year-old Brooke Blake, a 4th grader at Barlow Mountain Elementary School who is battling Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare form of brain cancer, flipped the ceremonial switch, making Ridgefield sparkle.
But, truly, the town was sparkling even without the 17,000 lights aglow.
Prior to her daughter lighting the town, Brooke’s mom, Madeline spoke to the crowd:
“I’m so grateful to live in a community where everyone is so willing to give regardless of their own story. I love this town. Thank you to the community for treating us as you’d treat your own. Live your day like it’s the fullest day you’ll ever have, appreciate what you’ve got because tomorrow is another day.”
Thank you to the many people and organizations who gave their time and talents to make the holiday tree lighting what it is and has been for 19 years: a safe and joyful community event for all. Among those who made last night possible: Boy Scout Troop 431 (who checked every single bulb), Dick Aarons and Ridgefield CERT, Ridgefield Firefighters, Jeff Miller of Miller Electric - all of whom assured we attendees were safe last night.
Ridgefield is special beyond words.