By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Last year, a towering artificial Christmas tree that served as the centerpiece of Sea Isle City’s holiday decorations was destroyed when it toppled over.
No, don’t blame the Grinch and his mean-spirited hijinks.
Fierce winds from a coastal storm over the Christmas weekend in 2022 snapped the steel support cables for the 30-foot tree and sent it crashing to the ground with such force that it bent the metal frame.
With Christmas just nine weeks away, Sea Isle is making plans to have another soaring artificial tree that will overlook Excursion Park and once again serve as the focal point for the city’s holiday decorations.
City Council is expected at its meeting Tuesday to approve an agreement with a professional decorating contractor that will install the city’s holiday display. Sea Isle is planning to add even more decorations this year around town, including having a new tree in Excursion Park that will be the same size as the one that was destroyed.
“It’s an updated tree. It will be a little more life-like,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
Before it was blown over, the tree overlooked Excursion Park next to the beach.
Each year, Sea Isle’s decorating contractor, Rileighs Outdoor Decor, of Allentown, Pa., dresses up Excursion Park, City Hall, the downtown business district and other popular areas of town with elaborate holiday displays. The city’s Public Works Department also pitches in to help create the festive mood.
Custer explained that the city will have Rileighs add extra decorations throughout town and refurbish others that have suffered from wear and tear.
“We try to add a little more each year where we haven’t had them before,” she said.
Every year, the decorative lamp posts lining the John F. Kennedy Boulevard entryway are trimmed with garland and wreaths accented with red bows. Christmas lights and snowflakes sparkle along JFK Boulevard and the Landis Avenue corridor in the downtown business district.
The decorations are another way to make the business district more inviting to holiday shoppers. Twinkling lights add to the cheery atmosphere. The traditional holiday decorations create a bit of whimsy and nostalgia for residents and visitors alike.
“People really appreciate the decorations we have,” Custer said. “We hear positive comments each year. The decorations really enhance our holiday environment.”
Each year, Victorian-style lamp posts decorated with wreaths and red bows create a festive atmosphere along the John F. Kennedy Boulevard entryway into town.
The 30-foot Christmas tree, which overlooks Excursion Park just steps from the ocean, is decorated each year with colorful ornaments, white lights and a twinkling white star on top.
As is tradition, Santa joins Mayor Leonard Desiderio to light the tree after Sea Isle’s Christmas parade down Landis Avenue, capping off the city’s official holiday celebration. The parade and tree lighting will be held this year on Nov. 24 starting at 6 p.m.
“The Christmas tree is the centerpiece for our holiday decorations. But Mayor Desiderio also very much wants to spread the holiday decorations across town,” Custer noted of the city’s plans for even more festive displays this year.
Custer credited the City Clerk’s Office and the City Purchasing Office for overseeing the holiday decorations.
“They do a good job,” she said.
A sleigh and holiday characters greet motorists at the foot of the Townsends Inlet Bridge in 2022.
