Downtown Bristol to be bathed in sea of color

Santa Claus will flip the switch as Grand Illumination kicks off Christmas Festival Saturday at 4 p.m.

By Patrick Luce
Posted 12/1/16

If it doesn’t already, it will certainly begin to look a lot like Christmas this weekend, when downtown Bristol is bathed in colorful lights after Saturday’s Grand Illumination.

The …

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Downtown Bristol to be bathed in sea of color

Santa Claus will flip the switch as Grand Illumination kicks off Christmas Festival Saturday at 4 p.m.

Posted

If it doesn’t already, it will certainly begin to look a lot like Christmas this weekend, when downtown Bristol is bathed in colorful lights after Saturday’s Grand Illumination.

The 29th annual Bristol Christmas Festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the town from across the East Bay. The main event, which traditionally ended the festival, instead will kick it off Saturday at 4 p.m., a switch made last year to accommodate businesses downtown, Christmas Festival Committee Chairwoman Tanya Kieron said.

“After the illumination last year, we couldn’t get in anywhere — everything was packed, which is great,” Ms. Kieron said. “It’s going to be great again this year. We always make it bigger and better every year.”

Town officials will join the official Bristol Santa Claus, Town Crier Michael Rielly, in counting down to the big moment when the lights turn on for the season. Mr. Rielly and two young helpers from the crowd will hit the lights when the count hits 0.

“This year, we’re going to have a giant light switch to flip at the countdown, which should be fun,” Mr. Rielly said. 

The pre-show begins at 4 p.m. at the Burnside Building on Hope Street, which local music and dance performances before the lights come on at about 6 p.m. Traditionally, the town administrator reads “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the crowd to cap off the festive event. This year, the classic story will still be read, but will be done across the street, inside St. Michael’s Church. Outgoing Town Councilman Halsey Herreshoff will do the honors.

“Bell ringers will lead the crowd the St. Michaels after the lighting,” Mr. Rielly said. “It’ll be more intimate, more family-friendly. I think it’ll be a nice thing. I hope it will become a tradition.”

Before the reading, Mr. Rielly will join the crowd for pictures in front of the big Christmas tree on Hope Street. He will be doing a lot of that during a busy weekend that begins with the annual East Bay Newspapers photo shoot with Santa at the Audubon Environmental Education Center Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., when as many as 1,000 children are expected to visit Santa.

“That should be interesting. I don’t do malls, so I’ve never had 1,000 kids come through and sit on my lap,” Mr. Rielly said. “I like to spend time and talk to the children. I want to build those lasting memories.”

He should have more opportunity to do so Sunday morning at Breakfast with Santa at Mt. Hope High School, which features a pancake breakfast, crafts for the kids and, of course, time with Santa. Admission is $5; children under 5 are free.

Mr. Rielly is no stranger to the magic of Santa Claus. He began portraying the jolly ole elf when he was just 8 years old, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Jim Rielly, Bristol’s first town crier and a Santa Claus imitator for most of his life. While the younger Mr. Rielly doesn’t yet have the natural, white beard expected of Santa Claus, he spends two hours transforming his face for the role every time he dons the red suit.

“It is real hair and it’s a real beard, but it’s not growing out of my face,” said Mr. Rielly, noting the beard glued to his face is a combination of human and yak hair made in Austria. “It’s very realistic. The only downfall is my face looks like I have a bad sunburn by the end of the season.”

Mr. Rielly will certainly play a key role in the weekend festivities, but he noted it is the spirit of the season, not him, who is the highlight.

“It’s a tremendous honor and a great tradition,” he said of the Bristol Christmas festival. “But I don’t want it to be all about Santa. I want it to be about community. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Bristol Christmas Festival includes:

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  • The Grand Illumination - Saturday, Dec. 3, 4 p.m. at the Burnside Building on Hope Street. Santa Claus will flip the switch on the town decorations, and local school choruses will perform for the crowd. “’Twas the Nigh Before Christmas” will be read immediately after in St. Michael’s Church.
  • Breakfast with Santa — Sunday, Dec. 4, 8 a.m. - noon, at Mt. Hope High School on Chestnut Street. The event includes a children’s craft workshop, pancake breakfast and free pictures with Santa for $5.
  • Many Moods of Christmas Concert — Sunday, Dec. 4, 3-5 p.m., St. Mary’s Church, 300 Wood St.
  • Christmas Storytime — Saturday, Dec. 10, 1-3 p.m., at Rogers Free Library, 525 Hope St.
  • Living Windows Holiday Display — Saturday, Dec. 10, 3-7 p.m., Downtown Bristol. Merchants will bring Christmas storybooks to life in their display windows.

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Christmas 2016, Bristol's Grand Illumination

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