Holographic Sunglasses Arrive In Collingswood For The Holidays

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — Collingswood will hand out Holospex glasses, holographic lenses that bend the light to create a magical pattern from every bright point of light, during its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 24, borough officials announced on Monday. They will be available right after Santa Claus climbs off the roof of Collingswood's Borough Hall, 678 Haddon Avenue, 7 p.m.

Each weekend from Nov. 24 to Dec. 15, Collingswood merchants will distribute a different theme so guests to the town can enjoy seeing the annual light display as thousands of reindeer, angels, snowmen and elves. The retro-style 3-D glasses add new holiday magic to Collingswood’s already breathtaking light display.

“It caused a bit of a frenzy last year because everyone is so excited to try out each new theme," Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley said. “There's a rush to collect all four. It's fun to see everyone dashing around like kids to get the new set, myself included."

The theme schedule is as follows:

WEEK 1 Reindeer - available November 24 at:
ExtraordinaryED/Santa’s Workshop (808 Haddon Ave);
Premier Eye Associates (571 Haddon Ave);
Clutter Vintage (697 Haddon Ave);
All Fired Up (602 Haddon Ave);
The Tortilla Press (703 Haddon Ave);
The Quilted Nest (823 Haddon Ave);
Nutty Duchess Tearoom (807 Haddon Ave);
Galerie Marie (709 Haddon Ave);
The Nesting House (710 Haddon Ave);
Occasionette (724 Haddon Ave);
The Pop Shop (729 Haddon Ave); and
Grooveground (647 Haddon Ave).

WEEK 2 Angels– available December 1 at: TBA

WEEK 3 Snowmen – available December 8 at: TBA

WEEK 4 Elves – available December 15 at: TBA

Only about 100 will be available at each location.

The Holospex giveaway is just part of Collingswood’s season-long calendar of merriment, full of carolers, visits with Santa, events and free parking in December. There will also be a live ice carving demonstration just after the Tree Lighting on Nov. 24 at the Zane Schoolhouse clock, 756 Haddon Avenue. Guests can help welcome Santa, catch the live ice show, visit shops for Holospex and start their holiday shopping and merriment that night.

Santa will welcome families on Nov. 24 and all season long at his Collingswood Headquarters at ExtraordinaryED, 808 Haddon Avenue. Santa’s hours in December are Friday nights, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Santa is available to hear good girls and boys every weekend in December, free of charge! Pictures during visits are encouraged.

Haddon Avenue is decked out with more than a quarter million lights so visitors and residents can shop in a winter wonderland and find just the right gifts for underneath the tree. Collingswood even guarantees snow during the season, setting the winter mood with snow machines.

The holidays also mean extended shopping hours every Friday and Saturday in December, whimsically decorated storefronts competing for top prize and for those who stroll, carolers fill the air with holiday tunes on weekends. The final second Saturday of the season will take place on Dec. 9, offering a chance to shop in a winter wonderland and enjoy live music and local art.

The attached images were provided by the Borough of Collingswood