It was only fitting that the biggest Christmas tree that has ever graced Mattapoisett’s Shipyard Park should also see the largest Holiday celebration the town has ever held.
“It was spectacular,” said Melody Pacheco, administrative assistant to the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen. Each year, Ms. Pacheco is instrumental to organizing the Holiday in the Park, which kicks off the town tree lighting with a visit from Santa on a fire engine, ornament making, music from the Old Hammondtown School band and chorus, and food donated from local establishments. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of a lot of generous people,” said Ms. Pacheco. “It was the biggest one yet. There must have been a thousand people out there.”
Prior to the Holiday in the Park, Ms. Pacheco’s husband Kenny and stepson Todd Pacheco adorned the Holiday tree with lights.
“I think my son did a good job,” Mr. Pacheco smiled. “The lights look really even!” Mr. Pacheco worked at the event as emcee, which was considerable given the level of activity and noise.
An unexpected twist this year came in the form of two marriage proposals. Matthew Arguin proposed to girlfriend Carolyn Costa, and couple Ashley White and Jon Sweatland announced their very recent engagement at the Holiday event.
While romance was in the air, a thread of philanthropy wove residents together, as a pile of toys and canned food grew throughout the night. At the donation table, Mattapoisett Lions Club members Teri Nelson and Mariann DeCosta reported an “excellent turnout” for toys and food, despite, or perhaps because of, the economy.
“This is as good as last year,” said Ms. Nelson. “All the food goes to St. Anthony’s pantry and helps people in the Tri-Town.”
As he does every year, Santa Claus himself made a rock star appearance on a fire engine, along with his good friends Rudolph and Frosty. Children waited in line patiently to tell Santa all their wishes, as parents chattered among themselves and enjoyed music from the Occasion Singers, who regaled the crowd with old-fashioned renditions of Christmas carols in four-part harmony.
By Anne Kakley