’Tis the season for holiday cheer, and Palmerton is bringing it out full-force with the annual Christmas in the Park celebration.

The event will feature over 100 Christmas trees, donated by Beisel’s Christmas Tree Hill and decked out by local residents, businesses and other groups. Thanks to a grant that will cover the electricity costs, the Christmas in the Park committee was able to add almost two dozen more trees over last year’s total.“It’s really a lovely new tradition that earns money for projects in town,” committee chairwoman Michele O’Neill said.The festivities will begin with a presentation by the UVO Color Guard, remarks by Mayor Chris Olivia, and a choral selection from the S.S. Palmer Chorus. Local nonprofit organizations will have booths open for food and gift sales throughout the day. Toys for Tots will accept donations of new, unwrapped gifts, and the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches will take food contributions for the pantry. Santa Claus will be giving out goody bags to children at the band stand from 1 to 3 p.m., and horse-drawn wagon rides will go on from 1:15 to 4 p.m.Sounds of the season will be present during the entire ceremony, with the Chimers of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church performing at 12:40 p.m., a strolling brass quintet at 1:30, the Sweet Adelines of Lehigh Valley Chorus at 2:30, and the Towamensing Elementary Chorus and Palmerton Jr. High School and High School Choruses at 3:15 p.m. At 4:15, there will be a public participation Christmas carol sing-along with CACPAC, which will lead right up to the tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30.The idea for the celebration came from O’Neill, who had decorated a tree for a similar event in New York. She figured that it could inspire some charitable community cheer, with contributions for decorating going to the Palmerton Light Committee. However, she never expected that the humble little project would take off as well as it has.“The whole goal in the beginning was just to have a fundraiser,” O’Neill said. “I proposed the idea, and they looked at me like I was nuts. But, in the first year, it was a huge success.”In the years since, O’Neill has had to establish a waitlist for available trees.To decorate a tree, a person, family, business or organization has to sign up with the committee, pay a $40 minimum donation, and adhere to a few basic rules — only use LED lights and nonbreakable ornaments, and take down your own decorations in the beginning of January.“Anybody can adopt a tree — a family, school, business or organization,” O’Neill said. “Some, like the day cares, want to show off the kids’ artwork. Others honor a loved one. Some businesses simply do it to be more involved with the community.”Contributors including the American Legion, Watch Me Grow Day Care, the Palmerton Hotel, and yes, Times News Lehighton, will display their evergreens alongside dozens of others, brilliantly lighting up the park for the holidays. Some institutions relish the chance to decorate with a special theme, as well.“Last year, the fire house had a flashing light at the top of their tree, with a hose on the bottom,” O’Neill said.The event promises to bring plenty of Christmas joy to the borough, allowing everyone to take a moment out of a busy season to enjoy the quaint pleasures of the holiday.“It’s this simple little thing of spending time with family, strolling through the park, and remembering what the Christmas season is all about,” O’Neill said.In case of rain, Christmas in the Park will be rescheduled for Sunday.