A past tree lighting at the Christmas Tree sale lot of the Exchange Club of New Canaan.
One of New Canaan’s great holiday traditions kicks off Friday, Nov. 24 with the opening of the Christmas Tree sale at Kiwanis Park.
Organized and run by the Exchange Club of New Canaan, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the sale, which raises funds for charitable organizations here in town and in nearby communities.
“Thanks to the support and generosity of the people of New Canaan, we’ve been able to donate more than $1 million to over 30 local charities in the past 10 years alone, and the Christmas tree sale is by far our largest fundraising event,” Club President Charlie Holmes said in a press release.
The tree lot in Kiwanis Park, on Old Norwalk Road, will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Friday and running through Dec. 23. There, locals can purchase Balsam or Fraser fir trees as well as wreaths and various other Christmas merchandise. Last year, the club sold nearly 1,300 trees and 2,000 wreaths.
Jeff Platt, the Club’s incoming president and head of the tree lot operation, said the sale has become a fixture of life in New Canaan.
“It’s a really enjoyable time at the lot every year, as we see so many members of the community dropping by to purchase their Christmas trees and holiday decorations, and bringing their children to see Santa Claus at our ‘Christmas Village,’ ” Platt said in the release. “We also supply wreaths for the VFW to lay on veterans’ graves in New Canaan.” (That’s taking place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Lakeview Cemetery, all volunteers welcome.)
Scores of New Canaanites will make their way to the tree lot for a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the close of the two-day Holiday Stroll downtown.
More than 100 Exchange Club members spend about one month preparing for the sale, and local organizations that lend an important helping hand include the Service League of Boys, or ‘SLOBs,’ Holmes said.
“We thank them, as well as everyone who has supported this great event over the past 50 years, and we encourage everyone to come on out again this year,” he said.
In 2017, the Club granted $140,000 to local charities and community organizations. A recent project was partnering with the VFW and town government to refurbish and install the plaques honoring New Canaan veterans in the lobby of the new addition at Town Hall.
Club officials declined to provide a price range for the trees. The Balsam and Fraser firs range from four to 12 feet tall, they said.
One thought on “Exchange Club’s 50th Annual ‘Christmas Tree Sale’ Opens Friday at Kiwanis Park”
Come down and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Exchange Club by buying your tree from them.
Tree and wreath sales were quite brisk at the opening of the Exchange Club’s Sale in Kiwanis Park today. Last year the entire stock was sold out before Christmas eve.
Not only will you purchase a tree or wreath but you will be supporting about 30 local charities.
Come down and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Exchange Club by buying your tree from them.
Tree and wreath sales were quite brisk at the opening of the Exchange Club’s Sale in Kiwanis Park today. Last year the entire stock was sold out before Christmas eve.
Not only will you purchase a tree or wreath but you will be supporting about 30 local charities.