NORTHFIELD — As 2024 wraps up, Northfield residents are encouraged to usher in the new year with some bright lights in the dark.

On New Year’s Eve, residents are asked to put out luminaria along their walkways and driveways.

Adopting the community event that was originally held as part of the town’s 350th anniversary festivities, the Northfield Recreation Commission is continuing the practice of lighting up the final night of the year, with hopes of creating a new tradition in town. Northfield residents rang in and sent off 2023 with luminaria, an idea devised by resident Pat Shearer, who was part of the anniversary celebration’s planning.

“We got a lot of great feedback,” said Stacy Bond, director of the Recreation Commission who also chaired the 350th Anniversary Committee. “It’s something that’s very inexpensive, everyone can participate and even if you live on a dead end, you can still put the light out. It’s nice in the middle of a dark winter night, right?”

Luminaria can be made with sand, bags and electric candles, or folks can visit Dickinson Memorial Library at 115 Main St. to pick up supplies. Bond said Greenfield Cooperative Bank donated 350 tea lights, bags and sand, which can be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis. The library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“People seemed to like it so much that we want to make it a yearly tradition,” Bond said. “We picked 350 luminaries to give out for free as a sort of cool nod to the 350th.”

Additionally, FirstLight is hosting “Welcoming the Light,” a children’s luminaria-making workshop for ages 4 to 10, on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center with local artist Deborah Bazer. Registration is required by visiting bookeo.com/northfield.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.