On the count of three, New Windsor switched on the Christmas lights and the holiday spirit. Several hundred residents shouted "one, two, three" and watched Wednesday night as 45 strings of multicolored lights instantly brightened a 30-foot pine tree.
"This is the spirit of New Windsor, where neighbors get together and celebrate," said Mayor Jack Gullo, who wore a red stocking cap for the occasion. "Just a half-hour ago, they lit the national tree in Washington with the same feeling."
Residents gathered for carols and conviviality at the small lot at the corner of Route 75 and Main Street, the spot that many people hope will become a town park.
"It's an opportunity to see people we haven't seen for a while," Martha Robertson said.
Neighbors exchanged seasonal greetings and gushed over the tree.
"It took a day of work and a truck with a hoist to trim," said Councilman Kenneth Grimes.
A soft breeze and a few raindrops could not extinguish the flickering lights of 100 candles, spread throughout the crowd. Doug Keefer had surrounded each candle with a paper cup to ward off wind and keep the candles glowing.
Faces, bathed in the candlelight, gazed at children reciting the Christmas alphabet. Many sang along as the New Windsor Middle School band played traditional carols. Tina W. Grimes, dressed in a biblical costume, clutched a baby doll as she sang a sacred lullaby a capella. She had hoped to hold her 7-week-old son, Jordan, as she sang, but the baby was home with a cold.
Two-month-old Kagan Hoffman, asleep and bundled in a white blanket, may have been the youngest resident to join in the festivities. Since his parents, Debbie and Dave Hoffman, moved into their dream home last summer, they have plunged into town activities.
"Everyone has been really friendly and nice," Ms. Hoffman said.
The tree lighting was Kagan's second appearance at a town event.
"We dressed him as a pumpkin and put him in the Halloween parade," Ms. Hoffman said.
Just as the rain began to fall, the party moved to the Fire Hall on High Street for punch and homemade cookies, thanks to generous town bakers.
"The tree lighting was lovely and the candles were nice," said Sarah Baile, a Main Street resident. "It's a good idea to get together and they bake better cookies than I do."
For the Christmas 1995 program, Ms. Baile offered one suggestion: a microphone.
Councilwoman Rebecca Harman, who began the program four years ago and has organized it every year, agreed.
"We get larger groups every year," she said. "Next year, we will get a public-address system."