The Community Tree Lighting Thursday evening in the courthouse of the rotunda was a festive start for the holiday season, with close to 200 people of all ages in attendance. Young families sat together on the floor surrounding the huge tree as others stood behind. The holiday lights created excitement for the young and nostalgia for the not-so-young.
The second annual event was planned by Jefferson Matters: Main Street.
The hand bell choir from First United Methodist Church in Jefferson provided music before the program and the Central Christian Church choir led a sing-along of familiar Christmas carols. Don Van Gilder served as emcee and Andrew McGinn read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
After the program, people headed to Homestead Coffee and Bakery for free Christmas cookies or to get in line to talk to Mr and Mrs Claus. The Clauses talked with children in the courthouse rotunda before the tree lighting and at the top of the Mahanay Bell Tower afterwards.
Families will be happy to hear that all is well with the Clauses… they were seen smooching at the top of the Bell Tower… without mistletoe!
In the east assembly room of the courthouse stood a special display of luminarias from the 2014 Relay for Life. The metal stand was fabricated by high school students at the request of the Relay steering committee.
The Thomas Jefferson Gardens were also decked out for the evening. A lighted tree has been placed in the Rotary pavilion there, and the fence and gate has been decorated with garland from Deal’s Orchard.
