Home for the Holidays

12/07/2024

Upcoming Traffic Advisory

On December 7th, 2024 Westwood will host its annual Home for the Holidays Parade.

Please be advised that this will involve road closures and detours from 5pm until around 9pm. Plan accordingly.

The parade kicks off at 6pm!

12/07/2024

Just 2 days until the Jazz Band's swingin' "Home for the Holidays" concert - 8 PM on Dec. 7 in the Community Center.

Take a Sleigh Ride into our Winter Wonderland to hear Charlie Brown, Rudolph & more. We won't Let it Snow inside (even though we're hoping for a White Christmas) and we'll bring some Hot Chocolate (the musical kind) to give you Comfort & Joy and hopefully Make You Smile. See you then!

12/02/2024

10/09/2024

GET READY TO TWINKLE, SHINE & GLOW IN WESTWOOD
Annual Parade and Activities Set for December 7th
The Westwood Recreation Department and parade planning committee are pleased to announce “Twinkle, Shine & Glow” as the theme for this year’s Home for the Holidays parade to be held on December 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., rain, snow or shine! Tree lighting in Veterans Park and photos with the big jolly elf himself will immediately follow the parade.

BE IN THE PARADE!
Local organizations and youth groups interested in hosting a float or marching in the parade can register by filling out a short form at: https://tinyurl.com/2024HFTHParade or by emailing Westwood Recreation Supervisor RoseAnn Ciarlante at [email protected]. Organizations are reminded that a certificate of insurance is required for participation. Deadline to register and return all required paperwork is November 15.

SPONSOR THE PARADE!
In addition, the planning committee is seeking a limited number of $1000 sponsorships. All sponsors will have their logo on posters and banners, will be included on social media posts, and will be given the opportunity to host a sponsors table along the parade route. All sponsorship requests will be reviewed and confirmed by the Westwood Recreation Department. Sponsorship proceeds will be used to support parade activities. Those interested in sponsorship can email [email protected] by October 15th.

The Home for the Holidays parade has been a Pascack Valley tradition since the 1960s when Santa Claus took his first ride through downtown Westwood on the back of the Westwood Fire Department’s ladder truck. He’s been back every year as the parade has grown, delighting children and their families with big waves and jolly winks from high atop the fire truck followed by visits with his fans at Westwood’s historic bandstand. The Home for the Holidays Parade was voted Best Special Town Event in the 2024 (201) Best of Bergen Community Choice Awards.

The Home for the Holidays parade is made possible by the Borough of Westwood and its Recreation, Police, Public Works, and Fire departments with the assistance of a dedicated corps of community volunteers. For more information about the parade please contact the Westwood Recreation Department at 201-664-7882 or visit westwoodnj.gov/recreation. Updates can be found on Facebook or Instagram -- .

11/30/2023

WESTWOOD RECREATION DEPARTMENT
2023 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS PARADE
DECEMBER 2, 2023 at 6:00 PM
WESTWOOD AVE TO VETERANS PARK

Dear residents & neighbors,
It is with much delight that we invite you to attend the 2023 Home for the Holidays Parade & Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 2! Here's the details:
From 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.:
--DJ Anthony plus Dance Troop performances at 5:15 and 5:35 on Westwood Ave. at Center Ave.
--A Children's Chorale Group at Westwood Ave. in front of the post office at 5:15
--WRHS Chamber Singers at the Westwood Public Library
--Jingle Bell Craft at the Westwood Public Library
At 6:00 p.m.:
--The parade begins, traveling down Westwood Ave. to Veteran's Park
After the parade:
--Tree Lighting in Veterans Park directly following the parade!
--Westwood Community Band Concert at 8:00 p.m. in the Westwood Community Center! All welcome!
A few reminders!
--Westwood Ave. will close at 5:00 p.m. All cars must be off the parade route by 4:30 p.m.
--Metered parking is until 3:00 p.m. downtown where there will be shopping & dining all day long!
--The parade and tree lighting happens in the cold, rain and snow! Please dress accordingly.
--Please be mindful of your children during the parade. No one should cross the barriers into the street during the entirety of the parade for any reason. For everyone's safety, please follow the instructions of police and parade volunteers.

The Westwood Recreation Department, along with the Westwood Department of Public Works, The Westwood Police Department and the The Westwood Fire Department are excited to be working with dedicated volunteers who make this annual tradition a joy for kids and adults alike.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please follow on Facebook or Instagram for parade information and updates.

11/16/2023

Veterans’ Park will be glowing bright this holiday season:

Celebrate Westwood
Valley Chabad
Westwood, NJ

11/09/2023

Calling all Westwood residents with a sweet tooth and a creative flair!

Join us for the inaugural Celebrate Westwood Gingerbread House Contest on December 11, 2023, 6PM-8PM at the Westwood Community Center.

Whether you're a seasoned gingerbread house builder or a first-timer, we encourage you to participate. This is a fun event for the whole family, and we can't wait to see your creations!
​
To read more about this event and to register use this link: celebratewestwood.org/gingerbread



Westwood Free Public Library
Westwood Recreation
Home for the Holidays

11/03/2023

On behalf of Westwood Recreation and the Home for the Holidays committee, Celebrate Westwood is excited to bring back the tradition of ornament sales and is proud to be donating 100% of proceeds to Westwood Cares! Pre-sales are now live! Each hand crafted ornament will include a locally made wooden tag which says "Home for the Holidays Westwood 2023." Delivery is expected by early December and quantities are limited.

Westwood Cares was founded in 2002 as a nonprofit organization helping neighbors in need who do not qualify for government assistance with basic needs such as utility and medical bills, partial rent, car repair, food gift cards, and more.

Please direct questions to [email protected].
Ornaments can be ordered at CelebrateWestwood.org

11/02/2023

Save the date!

11/01/2023

We can almost hear the sleigh bells already!

10/13/2023

ANNOUNCING Home For The Holidays 2023!

🎅 🎊SANTA’S ELVES PREPARE FOR
2023 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS PARADE
Annual Parade and Activities Set for December 2nd 🎊🤶

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS!

Dust off your jingle bells Pascack Valley! The Westwood Recreation Department and parade planning committee are pleased to announce “Santa’s Elves” as the theme for this year’s Home For The Holidays parade set for December 2, 2023.

🎅 🎊Local organizations and youth groups interested in hosting a float or marching in the parade can register by filling out a short form at: https://tinyurl.com/HFTH2023 or by emailing Westwood Recreation Supervisor RoseAnn Ciarlante at [email protected]. Organizations are reminded that a certificate of insurance is required for participation. Deadline to register and return all required paperwork is November 15. 🎊🤶

The Home for the Holidays parade has been a Pascack Valley tradition since the 1960s when Santa Claus himself took his first ride through downtown Westwood on the back of the Westwood Fire Department’s ladder truck. He’s been back every year as the parade has grown, delighting children and their families with a big waves and jolly winks from high atop the fire truck followed by visits with his fans at Westwood’s historic bandstand. This year the parade on December 2 will step off at 6:00 p.m. and will be held rain, snow or shine! Tree lighting in Veterans Park immediately follows the parade.

The Home for the Holidays parade is made possible by the Borough of Westwood and its Recreation, Police, Public Works, and Fire departments with the assistance of a dedicated corps of community volunteers. For more information about the parade please contact the Westwood Recreation Department at 201-664-7882 or visit westwoodnj.gov/recreation. Updates can be found on Facebook or Instagram -- or

HHome for the HolidaysWWestwood, NJCCelebrate WestwoodPPascack Press

Photo: Richard Frant/Frant Visuals -- 2022 Home for the Holidays Parade