Home for the Holidays in Caldwell

Olivia DePiro

December 23, 2025

Caldwell, NJ, is home to many current and past JCHS students, as well as many other families, who make this town feel like home. The holidays are a special time for lots of people, but there are many traditions around Caldwell that make this time feel very unique to the residents. These traditions can be seen through the bright lights on houses, the annual Christmas tree lighting, Santa coming around on his firetruck, the “Giving Tree” project, and various donations set up in JCHS.

Bright Lights

While driving around Caldwell during this time of the year, one can notice the bright lights set up throughout the town. Homes, stores, light poles, and additional areas work together to light up Caldwell at night. These decorations spread lots of Holiday cheer, and truly unify residents of a town many people call home.

Christmas Lights Display on Decamp Ct in West Caldwell, NJ (*Courtesy of* Facebook)

The “Giving Tree” Project

The Caldwell “Giving Tree” is able to aid many children in need. This project allows participants to deliver unwrapped present donations. This year, the presents are due by December 10th, and can be dropped off at the Irene Gibbons Health & Human Services Building, 14 Park Avenue Caldwell, NJ 07006 from Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Participants can sign up to get gifts for a Newborn to 5-year-old child, a 6- to 12-year-old child, and/or a 13- to 17-year-old child. People can include their names, or remain “anonymous”. This project helps many children feel seen during the Holiday season, especially when things aren’t currently easy for them. The Online Annual Giving Tree can be found by searching “The Caldwell ‘Giving Tree’, Borough of Caldwell”. This website gives a place to sign up and participate in the project.

The Caldwell “Giving Tree” Flyer (*Courtesy of* The Borough of Caldwell)

The Annual Tree Lighting

The Annual Tree lighting on the Borough Green takes place every year, typically early in December. This year, the event began around 5 p.m on December 6th, and Santa came to town! He arrived in his fire truck around 5:15 p.m! Many festivities go on in addition to the lighting, including a performance by the First Presbyterian Church Choir. However, the festivities did not end there. After this event concluded, the visitors were welcomed to go to the Caldwell Firehouse for hot chocolate, cookies, and pictures with Santa.

Caldwell Annual Tree Lighting (*Courtesy of* The Progress)

Donation Opportunities in JCHS

In JCHS, there are many donation opportunities throughout the year. Currently, there is the Goryeb Toy Drive, the FBLA Toys for Tots, as well as the NHS Homeroom Drive as this year’s holiday donation opportunities. JCHS students can take advantage of these opportunities as a chance to give back to their community. Boxes to give donations to are located in the CPA lobby. Additionally, each second period class adopted a child in need to shop for in order to ensure there is no child left out of the holiday spirit!

Toys for Tots Donation Bins *(Courtesy of* Olivia DePiro)

The Ugly Sweater Contest

The Ugly Sweater Contest is an annual event in JCHS where students and staff participate to see who has the ugliest sweater. This occurs the day before winter break with a variety of different sweaters seen throughout the school hallways.

Picture of Madison Marsh, Garner Ghering, and Cole Bazerman from Last Years’ Contest *(Courtesy of* JCHS Administration)

Donate to The Caldron

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