North Augusta brought in the yuletide season Tuesday night with its yearly downtown Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.
The event, sandwiched between the annual Cookie Crawl, kicked off at 5 p.m., with crowds congregating at Calhoun Park, the site of the tree and surrounding holiday displays, and the Lookaway Inn.
The North Augusta and Paul Knox Middle Schools’ bands played seasonal tunes in front of the historic hotel in the hour leading up to the lighting.
Downtown North Augusta’s Boy Scout Troop 7 kept up its 15-year tradition at the lighting, keeping fire pits burning for roasting the marshmallows they were giving away. Some 20 troops manned the park handing out candy canes and skewers for the marshmallows.
At about 6 p.m., Mayor Briton Williams welcomed the crowd, presenting announcements about the city’s upcoming holiday events, including the Tinseltown Forest celebration on Saturday, Dec. 2, the Lions Christmas Parade on Dec. 3, the Sing Noel musical performance at First Baptist Church of North Augusta on Dec. 8 – 9, and “Return to Bethlehem,” and Grace United Methodist Church’s walk-through Nativity event, on Dec. 6 – 9.
Williams introduced “special guests” Santa and Mrs. Claus, before bidding four-year-old Annie Grace Carpenter to turn the switch to illuminate the tree, decorations and all of downtown.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
