The City of Hobart held their 5th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on a Friday in early December. Spearheaded by the Hobart Special Events Committee this event brings a little extra holiday cheer to the locals, and provides a fun and free event for families big and small.
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“We invite the entire community to come out and enjoy themselves each year at our Christmas Tree Lighting,” Nikki Lopez, Director of Events for the City of Hobart said. “We want everyone who lives in Hobart to enjoy a great quality of life and this event, which is free to attend, as well as many other events that we provide throughout the year help them to do that.”
Pine trees lines decorated in their Christmas best dotted Festival Park. Each one was sponsored by a local business or group who wished to help make the event more beautiful for patrons. The beautifully decorated trees were part of a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts of Hobart and Lake Station, who joined forces with the City of Hobart in a Community Tree Trim that took place in late November. Money raised will go into making repairs to the Scout Cabin in Jerry Pavese Park.
There were all sorts of things for the young and young at heart to do. Families strolled about the park, looking at the lights and snapping pictures, others took horse-drawn carriage rides (courtesy of Buggies and Things), and some sat and warmed their hands by a large community bon fire.
“This is my favorite event of the year. Everyone loves it,” Julie Mandon Recreation and Operation Coordinator for the Parks Department. “We get to bring holiday cheer to people and kick off the holiday season. The weather isn’t too bad, it is cold but really not that bad.”
There was even more going on inside the Community Center. The man in red, Santa himself, stopped by to see the kids and do some very merry photo opps with them while parents looked on fondly or filled up the memory cards on their cameras with pictures, and in a side room there was a marvelous display called the Magic Kingdom Disney Train Spectacular. This is a life-long project that was started many years ago by Mike Heckler of the Hobart Street Department and it is quite a sight to behold.
There was also a crafting corner for kids, and Hobart Events was selling hot food and drinks to raise money for future events in the city.
The main event brought everyone out into the park by the band shell as Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor and a gaggle of excited children surrounding him counted down to the big reveal of the lighting of the large Christmas tree in the center of Festival Park. The numbers dwindled… 3… 2… 1… and the switch was flipped, turning on the bright and colorful bulbs that covered the gigantic tree, complete with an angel atop that lit up.
“Isn’t this incredible? This is bigger and better than it’s ever been,” Mayor Snedecor said to the gathered crowd. “I want to shout out a very special thank you to Nikki and John and everyone who made this event possible.”
Afterward, people stuck around and enjoyed themselves, sipping hot chocolate, looking at the lights, listening to the musical talents of String of Pearls, or just chatting. It was a night that many won’t soon forget and will have many looking forward to the event again in 2016.