TOMS RIVER – The final numbers rang out in a joyful countdown: Ten. Nine. Eight, building up all the way down to One. Children’s voices rose above the cold December air. And then, in a sudden burst of light, Ocean County’s towering Christmas tree sprang to life, glowing against the early winter sky as applause rippled through the crowd.
The annual Ocean County Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at the county Administration Building, drawing more than an estimated 100 people despite brisk temperatures. Families, officials and county workers bundled together for a moment that blended tradition, music and the simple wonder of the season.
The ceremony came near the close of an era for Ocean County Board of Commissioners Director John “Jack” Kelly, who offered brief remarks before the lighting. Moments before, Kelly presided over his next to last Commissioners meeting before beginning his new role as Ocean County Clerk in 2026.
Also in attendance was Commissioner-elect Sam Ellenbogen, a familiar figure at county events, who joined fellow commissioners and county officials in celebrating the start of the holiday season. Ellenbogen will take his place on the dais in 2026 and appears to have worked hard to understand what’s going on in county government in his first elected position.
Music filled the front of the Administration Building as the Pine Beach Elementary School Chorus delivered a cheerful holiday medley that drew smiles from the crowd, which included proud parents wrapped in scarves and winter coats. One mother, shivering slightly as she watched, summed up the mood.
“It’s awfully cold out here,” she said with a laugh. “But we’re so happy that our children’s chorus was picked to sing for the county. It’s really exciting.”
The centerpiece of the evening was the county’s Christmas tree itself, a 28-foot Norway spruce decorated with 6,000 energy-efficient LED lights. Standing tall beside the Administration Building, the tree illuminated not only the courtyard but the faces gathered around it, especially as the countdown reached its triumphant finish.
Once the lights were glowing, the crowd made its way indoors for warmth, cookies and refreshments. Many were eager to greet the evening’s special guest from the North Pole, as Santa Claus arrived to spread a little extra cheer. Holiday cookies were prepared by students in the Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s culinary program, adding an extra special touch to the celebration.
As the season unfolds, the county will continue its holiday observances with the lighting of the large menorah adjacent to the Christmas tree. That ceremony, marking the start of Hanukkah, took place on December 15.
In the spirit of giving that defines the season, the Board of Commissioners also recently wrapped up its annual holiday toy drive. County departments and community members collected new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages, ensuring that families across Ocean County could experience a brighter holiday. While the collection concluded just before publication, officials expressed appreciation for the generosity shown once again this year.
From the voices of children lifted in song to the glow of thousands of lights cutting through the cold night, the ceremony delivered exactly what it promised. It was a festive beginning to the holiday season, shared by a community that paused together, if only briefly, to count down and watch Christmas light up.
