Baltimore County

County’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 1

Towson, Md. (November 20, 2009) —Baltimore County’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, December 1 at 6 p.m. It will be held in the downtown Towson shopping district at Olympian Park, located at the corner of Allegheny Avenue and the traffic circle.

County Executive Jim Smith will preside over the official tree lighting with assistance from members of the Baltimore County Council and the Towson Chamber of Commerce, Inc. The annual family event will feature free hot chocolate and cookies, and holiday music will be performed by the Perry Hall Middle School Christmas Carolers and Purrrfect Pitch, Towson University’s premier student a cappela singing group.

The event is co-hosted by the Towson Chamber of Commerce, Inc., County Executive Jim Smith and the Baltimore County Council. Sponsors include 101.9 Lite FM, the Baltimore Sun Media Group, the Baltimore County Revenue Authority and Sheraton Baltimore North.

Informal music will begin about 10 minutes before the 6 p.m. official program. The tree will be lit at approximately 6:30 p.m. followed by Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival atop a fire engine escorted by Town Crier “Squire Frederick.”

Ridgely and Ferrens Market Place will invite children indoors to sit on Santa’s lap and share their holiday wishes. Parents should bring their own cameras if they’d like photos of their children with Santa. For more information, call the Towson Chamber of Commerce at 410-825-1144.
Holiday Toy Drive

The Baltimore County Department of Social Services will collect toys at the event as part of their annual holiday toy drive. Attendees are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift for a child that evening. Due to the economy, there is a higher than usual need for donated toys this year.

Toy collections will also occur at selected sites throughout the County through December 23. Unwrapped, new toys can be dropped off at these sites, Silhouettes in the Kenwood Shopping Center or any branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. For additional information on the toy drive, please call the Social Services Volunteer Office at 410-853-3024.
Temporary Road Closures

To accommodate the event, Allegheny Avenue will be closed to traffic from Washington Avenue to the traffic circle from 5 p.m. until approximately 8:30 p.m. that evening.
Free Holiday Parking for the Holiday Season

The Baltimore County Revenue Authority will provide free holiday metered parking in the County’s neighborhood downtowns during the Thanksgiving weekend, November 26 - 29, and from Saturday, December 19 through Sunday, December 27.

Baltimore County’s neighborhood downtowns are located in Arbutus, Catonsville, Dundalk, Essex, Lansdowne, Liberty Road, Loch Raven, Overlea-Fullerton, Parkville, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Towson and Woodlawn. Red “Seasons Greetings - Free Parking” meter bags will be placed over the meters on these designated days. Patrons are asked to limit their stay to two hours so that everyone has an opportunity to park for free during this program.

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