Hundreds of people gathered in West Hempstead’s Halls Pond Park on Sunday to enjoy the festivities of Holiday at Halls Pond. The annual celebration is organized by the West Hempstead Community Support Association to celebrate the lighting of the menorah and a Christmas tree.
“Holiday at Halls is our children’s party, tree and menorah lighting for the community,” WHCSA President Maureen Mahoney said. “It’s how we bring the community together, which I feel is important to do as often as we can.”
The Dec. 5 celebration included a variety of free activities that local children enjoyed. There was a Build a Stuffed Animal station where children had the opportunity to make their own stuffed bear, dog or elephant to bring home, as well as a bounce house, glitter tattoos, ornament making, balloon animals, face painting and more.
Children sang along and danced to popular party tunes alongside Bluey (from the TV series) and Olaf (from Disney’s Frozen films), and even Santa joined in on the fun. Members of the Lakeview Fire Department, who also helped decorate the tree, brought the man in red to the festivities on the fire truck. Santa was also available for pictures and to hear children’s Christmas wishes.
There was cotton candy, popcorn, gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate available for attendees to enjoy.
The Rev. Ray Lorthioir, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Anthony Stanganelli, of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hempstead, shared holiday blessings with the attendees before the tree lighting.
“Without Hanukkah, there would be no Christmas,” Lorthioir said to the crowd, “because Hanukkah celebrates the fact that Jewish people were saved from destruction, and God provided them with a miracle. So the Jewish people survived, and from that, Jesus of Nazareth was born into the world.”
Lorthioir reminded the participants about the interconnectedness of their faiths, the community, and all there is to be thankful for during the holiday season.
Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks, shared her holiday wishes for the community as well. Nicks is currently the legislator of District 2, which includes Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury. She will soon represent a portion of West Hempstead in the newly redrawn 5th District. “I just want to wish everyone a very healthy and happy holiday season,” Nicks said. “It’s great to see the community out here, and so many of our children enjoying events like this during the holiday season.”
After a countdown, volunteers helped light the menorah and the Christmas tree.
