Many Sloatsburg elementary school kids spent Sunday morning with Santa at Sloatsburg Elementary School’s annual Breakfast with Santa event.

Now it’s on to caroling and tree lighting. Songs sung with friends and families. Bright burning candles amid decorated trees and hearths. Gift giving and dinner celebrations. Whether it’s Christmas or Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice, most all holiday celebrations this time of year are rooted in communal celebration–for health and harvest, for safety, for family, for friends.

Residents can join in Sloatsburg’s very own tradition of tree lighting and caroling through the central Village Sunday evening at 4 p.m., led by Mr. and Mrs. Claus themselves. The late afternoon stroll will include an appearance by the Suffern High School Select Choir and cookies and hot chocolate at the Municipal Building.

Mayor Carl Wright, a life-long village resident, said that the Village has hosted the evening in one form or another for nearly 40 years, through all kinds of weather and conditions.

The Sloatsburg Annual Lighting and Caroling begins at St. Joan of Arc Church and proceeds to Harmony Hall, the Sloatsburg Public Library, United Methodist Church, and then across the street to the Village Hall.

The program will start at St. Joan of Arc Church so please meet there. The church is located behind the post office off Eagle Valley Road.