The night cracked with light at the town's kickoff event to celebrate Manchester's 375th birthday in 2020.
Saturday 6pm: The members of the 375th Anniversary Celebration Committee got everything they hoped for at the Manchester Athletic Club for the Christmas Tree Bonfire, officially kicking off the yearlong Manchester-by-the-Sea birthday celebration. The more than 350 people who attended the event enjoyed a cool, windless night with cookies and cocoa while the public safety crew from the Manchester Fire Department ignited the fire, allowing watchers to move closer as the flames ebbed. The event had been postponed twice (apparently this is typical for big community bonfires), so in addition to the spectacular sight there was a lot of gratitude in the air.
