To officially mark the start of the holiday season, the Caernarvon Township Parks and Recreation Committee will present its annual tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Friendship Park, 3287 North St., Morgantown.

The event will also mark the opening of Santa's Village in the park, which consists of a series of small playhouses that children may visit, as well as a mailbox where they can mail their letters to Santa Claus. Each child who places a letter in the mailbox will receive a personalized response from Santa in the mail.

In addition to lighting a large tree in the park, the event will include a visit by Santa Claus, who will arrive on the back of Twin Valley Fire Department truck. Free coffee, provided by Twin Valley Coffee, and hot chocolate, donated by the Heritage Restaurant and the Berks Construction Group, will be available.

"There will also be s'mores over an open campfire and a craft for the kids to do that night," said Erin McMullen, a member of the parks and recreation committee.

McMullen has decorated each of the playhouses with a different theme, and each one will contain a small gift for children. "The village has expanded this year. We had eight houses last year and we will have 19 houses this year," McMullen reported. "There is a treat in each house from the elves."

Each of the gifts, including crafts, candy, hot cocoa and stickers, has been individually bagged by McMullen, with the help of family members, to keep them safe from the weather. "There is a mix and match of little toys, games, crafts and activity sheets," she pointed out. "We have a coloring book in one of the houses, and the gnome house has a stuffed gnome for kids to take home."

"We plan on 350 kids (visiting the village), which is what we had last year," she added.

Children can visit the village any time during the holiday season. The mailbox, which will be accessible 24 hours a day, will close on Monday, Dec. 18. All letters should be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

"Santa answered more than 250 letters last year," said McMullen, noting that she and other volunteers help with the return letters. "Each one specialized."

Last year, for example, one youngster asked Santa if he ever takes a vacation to get away from the North Pole where it is always cold. That child received a laminated photo of Santa in a bathing suit on the beach. "If they ask specific questions - and they do - we will send pictures back or write funny things or send jokes," McMullen noted. "We really try to make it that when they open it, it's the coolest thing ever."

McMullen started the Letters to Santa effort in 2021 by setting up a mailbox at the Caernarvon Township Building in Morgantown. Last year, the effort expanded to the park and included the addition of the Christmas village playhouses.

"The letters are so moving. It's precious," she shared. "(Santa gets) the greatest joy answering the letters."

For more information, search for the "Twin Valley Letters to Santa" Facebook group. More information about the tree lighting is available at http://www.facebook.com/CaernarvonPandR.