Holiday Prelude and Tree Lighting is Sunday

The lights are on the trees and Santa's house is ready for the big man's arrival on Sunday at the annual holiday prelude and tree lighting on the common. The event will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Santa will have a warm, comfortable spot in his house on the common and Chelmsford Patch will be there taking photos of kids telling him their Christmas wishes.

In addition to Santa, hot chocolate, hay rides around the common and Piney the talking tree (who received a face lift this year), Chelmsfordians will enjoy new LED lights on the town's Christmas tree, which will be lit at 5 p.m.

"There will also be areas to get chowder, hot dogs, hot chocolate and popcorn in different places around the event," said Vivian Merrill of the Holiday Decorating Committee. "There will be horse drawn hayrides, face painting and assorted music throughout the area. Santa arrives at 4 p.m. There will be things going on all over the Common, at the , , the Old Hotel, and "in the village" - which is the area around the library. Piney the Talking Tree will be in the village."

The event has been a staple in town for more than 25 years.