Santa Claus did the honors of lighting a large Christmas tree to signal the “official” start of the Christmas season in Jefferson last Thursday evening.
The community Christmas tree lighting was hosted by Jefferson Matters: Main Street at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens. About 150 attended the outdoor ceremony on one of the first very cold evenings this winter.
Claus was very complimentary of Jefferson and the Thomas Jefferson Gardens and commented on the beautiful decorations at the gardens. He rode a golf cart from the gardens to the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. There, at the top of the tower, he heard the wishes of children. “The bell tower is high, but it’s not as high as my reindeer go,” Claus said.
Don Van Gilder served as emcee for the tree lighting ceremony. Members of the Greene County Singers sang carols before and after the ceremony.
