Lexington Park Holly Days Opens Holiday Season With Christmas Tree And Menorah Lighting Celebration

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — The Lexington Park Library hosted its annual Holly Days celebration last weekend with the support of the Lexington Park Business Association, drawing families for a weekend of holiday activities that began with a community Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremony. They had carolers and free hot chocolate provided by the Lexington Park Rotary Club, along with appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus, who arrived in a Bay District Volunteer Fire Department fire engine.

Lexington Park Library Branch Manager Amy Ford said the annual program brought together multiple traditions and community partners to create a welcoming holiday experience. Holly Days supported vendors and local small businesses with access to a community marketplace in the library, which included activities designed for all ages. Ford said the event also included participation from multiple faith communities.

“We will have a Christmas tree lighting, a menorah lighting, and then during the event itself, we have a Kwanzaa display, a Hanukkah display, a nativity scene,” Ford said. “There is something here for everyone.”

Ford said turnout has remained strong since Holly Days began. “This is the second year for Holly Days,” she said. “We had an incredible turnout last year for it being the first year.”

Wynne Briscoe, president of the Lexington Park Business Association, said this year’s Holly Days celebration was designed to bring residents together and highlight the cultural diversity of the 20653 community. Briscoe said the goal of the annual celebration remained focused on strengthening community connections.

“Everything we do with the Lexington Park Business Association is to bring together the community to uplift Lexington Park,” Briscoe said. “We are collaborating with our stakeholders and the organizations that surround us to make the betterment of [the] 20653.”

The Lexington Park Business Association also hosts cultural events throughout the year. Briscoe said the organization’s flagship Community Culture and Cuisine Festival is held each June.

Robin Finnacom of the Lexington Park Business Association, and Holly Days chair, said the organization’s mission shaped many parts of the holiday program. She said the association viewed Holly Days as part of its broader effort to support local businesses and strengthen the perception of Lexington Park.

“The business association’s mission is to lift up Lexington Park, to lift up the business community, to lift up and bring positive attention to the community as a whole,” Finnacom said. “Since we approached Amy Ford and Michael Blackwell [St. Mary’s County Library director] with the idea of having this event here, they immediately said yes because Lexington Park Library is so much about lifting up the community, opening the doors wide and celebrating all that we are.”

“This event is about the celebration of everyone’s holidays,” Finnacom said. “So, the menorah lighting, the Christmas tree lighting, will have a Hanukkah display, Kwanzaa display and a nativity display.”

Finnacom said organizers also prepared free children’s activities, a recycled materials play area and a holiday vendor market supporting about 15 local businesses inside the library. She said the goal was to create a welcoming event that reflected the diversity across the 20653 community and supported small businesses.

Lexington Park Rotary Club And Volunteers Support Lexington Park Holly Days Tree Lighting

The Lexington Park Rotary Club helped welcome families to the Holly Days Christmas tree and menorah lighting by serving hot chocolate and greeting people from the community as they waited for Santa to arrive. Rotary President Rose Frederick said the club participated to support both the event and the neighborhood it serves.

“We are helping the community and working with the Lexington Park Business [Association],” Frederick said. “We are bringing in the hot chocolate and providing it to the community and helping them feel better and keep warm while they are waiting for Santa and Mrs. Claus.”

Frederick said the tree lighting carried importance for local communities as it brought a positive event to the area.

Recently retired from 30 years at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Bruce Theden played a critical role conducting the Holly Days Christmas tree lighting operations as Santa arrived by fire engine outside the Lexington Park Library. He said he also assisted with setting up the lights.

“Santa is coming on a fire engine,” Theden said. “When he gets off, I am going to turn the tree lights on.”

Theden said he welcomed the involvement after being contacted by the Lexington Park Library to assist with the display. He said his holiday wish reflected the safety concerns he carried throughout his career.

“Hopefully, [the holiday season] will be quiet, no fires and no big car accidents,” Theden said. “We run around 2,600 calls a year, probably 350 of those are motor vehicle accidents. Hopefully, we will not have any of those.”

Holiday programs continue through the month at the Lexington Park Library, including a K-Pop Demon Hunters event Dec. 20, and an annual New Year’s Eve celebration at noon for families.

“All of our event calendar things are available on our list,”

St. Mary’s County Library System: Library Website And Hours

---