The Mars Christmas tree located near the spaceship statue on Grand Avenue, was donated by Stick City Brewing. Submitted photo

Mars put its Christmas tree on display this week, and for the second straight year, the borough is counting on residents to fill up the tree, and the borough’s coffers, at the same time.

Residents can order one of five blank ornaments from the borough’s online shop, in the shape of a bulb, a Christmas tree, a gingerbread man, a snowflake, or a stocking. Once they receive their ornament, they can decorate it to make it stand out before returning it to the Mars borough office, which will then place it on the big Christmas tree.

The deadline for residents to return their finished and decorated ornaments to the borough office is Nov. 25, so that they can be placed on the big tree in time for the Light Up Mars event Nov. 30.

Ornaments cost $5 each, and the proceeds from sales will go into the borough’s parks and recreation fund.

“We can then use (the funds) for events or for anything that needs to be done at one of our parks,” said Bonnie Forsythe, borough secretary/treasurer. “It would cover anything from the July 4th celebration, the Mars Maker Market and Light Up night. Those are the events Mars borough sponsors. It would help pay for fireworks for July 4.”

Forsythe said during the initial fundraiser last year, the borough sold more than 150 ornaments and raised more than $750 for the parks and recreation fund.

The borough’s big Christmas tree is in its central square on Grand Avenue near the spaceship statue. It was donated by Stick City Brewing.