Jacqueline Coe carried a large box of handmade Christmas decorations into the John Lyons Center at New England College. It contained dozens of ornaments crafted by students at the Henniker Community School, made up of popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and beads.
Her colleagues at the SAU 24 school district carried in a synthetic tree and got to work decorating it with the array of ornaments and green lights representing the school’s color. Their tree is competing with 21 others in a decorating contest, as part of the annual Henniker Aglow holiday event.
“It’s such a fun way for the community to get together,” said Coe, the superintendent of schools.
Henniker Aglow is a single-day event that — along with its tree contest — offers caroling choirs, a street parade and classic holiday treats and drinks. The holiday celebration has gone through a revitalization in the last three years, with its organizers aiming for it to become more of a staple in the community.
Previously called Light Up Henniker, it started in 2018 with a tree lighting ceremony in front of the Henniker Community School. Families gathered at the community park gazebo to sing carols and watch the Santa parade.
The Henniker school’s Parent Teacher Alliance assisted with the event since its inception and has become the primary organizer.
“What we’re attempting to do is make it the central winter holiday-themed community event for all of Henniker,” said Courtney Portillo, the PTA president.
The PTA partnered with several local businesses and volunteer groups to “pull in as many different corners of the community as we can.” This year, 18 businesses have either donated gift cards and swag items as prizes or sponsored the event, bringing a total of $2,450.
One of the community sponsors is the Henniker Lions Club, a chapter of the national organization dedicated to humanitarian services. Elise DeMichaal has been a member for over two years and said she likes the changes made to Henniker Aglow.
“It’s great that the college is involved, because it definitely upscales the event in the eyes of the community,” she said. “Rather than just having it at the school, people can come to the college. It’s a beautiful facility.”
Organizers started working with New England College last year to hold the event indoors, since the weather can be unpredictable by the time it comes around, Portillo said. It also allowed for decorators to set up their trees one week in advance, as opposed to the same-day decorating that happened in years past.
“It’s really alleviated a lot of those problems and allowed us to expand the event and add other elements and make it just more comfortable for people to attend, no matter what’s happening outside,” she said.
New this year is the inclusion of the Henniker Concert Committee to provide live music, with performances from the jazzy Wild Vine Trio and the Carol Butler Hamilton Chorus.
Another new tradition is the partnership with the New Harvester Market and Henniker Food Pantry to provide meal bags to families struggling with food insecurity. Portillo said this will replace the canned food drive they used to have to ensure families have what they need for a full meal. They have sold 90 bags as of Wednesday.
In the week leading up to Henniker Aglow, Portillo and the PTA decorated the stairs in the Lyons Center with lights and stockings, plan the lighted vehicle parade full of decked-out Jeeps and set up crafting stations and games for the kids.
Portillo said she got questions about the event all the way back in the summer from residents and businesses, signifying how much people look forward to it.
“It’s becoming a Henniker tradition,” she said. “There’s a recognition now of what it is, and people are excited to participate … it’s kind of magical.”
Henniker Aglow is happening Sunday, Dec. 14, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the John Lyons Center at 79 Depot Hill Rd. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with tickets priced at $5 per person and $20 per family.