The Borough of Walnutport’s Recreation Board will host its first tree lighting on Saturday, with local businesses and residents alike adopting trees in the borough’s park on South Lincoln Street.

Starting at 3 p.m., families are invited to gather for hot chocolate and a visit from Santa before the twilight Christmas tree lighting.

For its first lighting event, the borough’s recreation board implemented a new “Adopt a Tree,” program allowing businesses and residents alike to adopt a tree in the park and decorate it to their designs.

“We are looking forward to Saturday,” said resident Susan Schneck.

Schneck and son Jeff Rockel decorated a tree in Texaco emblems for Rockel’s grandparents and Schenck’s late husband.

“Our tree is in honor of his grandparents and his dad who used to own the Texaco here in Walnutport,” she said.

“The patches came out of his grandmother’s sewing kit,” Schneck said.

“I think Saturday is going to be fun, I hope it’s going to grow next year.”

Borough Secretary Annette Lacko and husband Tom decorated a tree with antlers and burlap to resemble Rudolph.

“I already had the antlers from my wreath business,” Lacko said.

“We delivered the trees earlier in the week and I decorated ours while they were delivered,” she said.

Local businesses and residents from the Diamond Firefighters, the Times News, Blue Ridge Communications and borough Mayor Wayne Weidner were among the 27 tree sponsors.

Santa will be on-hand at dusk to light the borough’s tree for the holiday season, with several activities available for the family-friendly event.

Santa will arrive by 3:30 p.m., with the lighting at 4:30 p.m., at the 215 S. Lincoln Ave. park.

Funds raised from the event will be used for future borough projects.

This event is free and open to the public.