MOUNT LAUREL, NJ

Lenape students, families, and tourists alike gathered around the shops in Rancocas Woods last Thursday for the Mount Laurel Township Annual Tree Lighting. The Mount Laurel menorah was lit for the first night of Hanukkah to start off the event, with some words from Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler from Congregation Adath Emanu-El, mentioning how Mount Laurel was a place of “love and support” in times of the ongoing Israel-Palestine war. 

Later, after some foreword from Deputy Mayor Fozia Janjua, the crowd roared in applause for the arrival of Santa Claus on a fire truck driving down Creek Road. “I really liked seeing Santa because he’s the spirit of Christmas,”

Kaley Uyeda, a Lenape freshman said. “It made me think back to when I was younger and [when I] took pictures at the mall and how happy it always made me.” Santa Claus took a couple of selfies with the government officials, then proceeded to press down a big red button, setting off a spectacle of colorful lights illuminating the tree.

The event brought in many customers for store owners of the Shops at Rancocas Woods. Those in need of a warm treat could stop at the Four Green Cats Café for free hot chocolate. Holiday shoppers could spend their money supporting small businesses at the Rancocas Woods Craft Co-op or the Creek Mercantile. The tree lighting also brought in lots of activities for families to enjoy together, with bouncy houses having lined the side of Fleetwood Elementary School with a tent for face painting right across from them. People were able to get photos with Santa, and photo-ops with Anna and Elsa from Frozen were available as well. 

Most importantly, the Tree Lighting brought together the community of Mount Laurel and Lenape High School. The surge of supporting local small businesses has only been increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic, and Rancocas Woods seems to be reaping the benefits with this boom in business. But the shops haven’t just been a place for the community to support each other financially. Events like the Tree Lighting have been a place for people to get together and celebrate as a whole. “It definitely brought the community together,” Jayla Turner, another Lenape student said. “Just everyone spending time with their families and people having fun with their friends really showed how effective the event was.” 

The Tree Lighting is a newer tradition for the town, and it’s going to be one that stays.