For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Rockland Officials Invite Residents to Annual Holiday Stroll

Approximately 5,000 Expected to Attend This Year’s Event

ROCKLAND — Interim Town Administrator Marcia Birmingham and the Rockland Board of Selectmen would like to invite residents to attend the annual Holiday Stroll event put on by the non-profit group Rockland Friends.

“This is an event that people in town look forward to every year and it really helps Rockland to kick off the holiday season,” Interim Town Administrator Birmingham said. “With face painting, hayrides and pictures with Santa, the Holiday Stroll has something for the whole family and we hope to see another big turnout this year.”

WHEN:

Saturday, Nov. 24 from 4-7 p.m.

WHERE:

Downtown Rockland, Union Street, from the McKinley School to the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home

WHAT:

For more than 20 years the Rockland Friends group has hosted the Holiday Stroll in Rockland’s downtown as a way to bring the community together for the holidays.

Union Street businesses decorate their storefronts and welcome in visitors with hot chocolate, candy canes, apple cider, popcorn, fried dough and other treats.

Kids can get their faces painted, hold and pet animals from Joe’s Crazzy Critters, go on hayrides and meet some of the several festive costumed characters that will be walking around.

“Each year the Holiday Stroll brings thousand of people from Rockland and surrounding communities together to spread holiday cheer,” Selectman Michael Mullen said. “Seeing the downtown lit up with all of the lights and decorations really gives it a magical feel that makes this time of year so special.”

The main attraction of the Holiday Stroll is the transformation of the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home into the North Pole. Santa Claus gets dropped off by a Rockland Fire engine and goes inside to meet hundreds of kids who line up to sit on Santa’s lap.

“This year’s event is truly special as we honor Bob Biggins, who died in March this year and was a huge supporter of the Holiday Stroll,” said Pam Murphy, President of Rockland Friends, who helps organize the event each year. “Bob was a dear friend of ours and his holiday spirit was magnified each year as he decorated the funeral home, turning it into a winter wonderland. His son Danny will now be carrying on that legacy this year. We hope to see everyone come out and show their support and love for Biggs.”

About Rockland Friends

After serving three terms as a Selectwoman of the Town of Rockland, Pam Murphy started the non-profit charity Rockland Friends, Inc. The group’s mission is to make life better for the people of Rockland, especially the children and the elderly by hosting fundraising efforts throughout the year.

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