Center Shines at Jingle Bell Jubilee

Hundreds of lights hung around the gazebo lit up Clover Pinney Park in Unionville for the first Jingle Bell Jubilee Saturday and the jingling of bells and expectant smiles of children waiting for Santa warmed up the cold night.

The event featured games, family photos and cookie decorating throughout the day in three buildings on School Street, a carol sing, musical performances from the Farmington High School Oriana Singers and Vandermeer Voice and Art students.

By the end of the evening hundreds of people had visited Unionville’s Jingle Bell Jubilee, and about 150 stayed through a carol sing to welcome Santa Claus.

Tim LeBouthillier led the carolers in dancing to ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ as the man in red rode in on a Tunxis Hose firetruck, coming to a stop in front of the gazebo. Stepping out, he was swarmed by eager children, excited to see Santa and his grand arrival. Santa greeted them and put candy from his red bag into their hands.

It was a great end to a pretty great start of what organizers hope will be an increasingly successful annual event.

“It’s a great start,” said Town Council member and Unionville resident Charlie Keniston, who was enjoying the carol sing with this wife. “It’s not as big as Unionville Day yet but it’ll get there."

“We were pleasantly surprised,” said Courtney Hendricson, town economic development director. "It was a great success."

UVIA President and event organizer Tim LeBouthillier was already reflecting on the event and making plans for improvement.

“We had a wonderful time. Parents and families came out in the afternoon; it worked well because there was something for everyone,” he said. “We learned a lot and got lots of good ideas for next year.”

LeBouthillier said the work of the planning committee had been invaluable. That committee includes Monique Kucia, Cindy McDonald, Cindi Vallerio, Patty LeBouthillier, Cliff Alderman and Brian and Kay Hunter.

The sponsors, too, were wonderful he said.

He highlighted one more thanks:

“We started our carol sing with God Bless America and that was our way of recognizing the troops and saying thank you."