The City of Aiken brought the Christmas spirit downtown, Friday evening, with its 36th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.
By the time festivities started at about 6 p.m., lines were already building at the refreshment station for hot cocoa and apple cider, as kids awaited eagerly for an opportunity to take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Many of their parents endured to winter chill to see performances by students by East Aiken School the Arts singing Christmas Carols—including a lively rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” that had a small vanguard of young singers pantomiming the gifts in each lyric: “five golden rings,” for example, represented by the kids pretending to propose with a ring, and “10 lords-a-leaping” with a small jump by the children singing from the riser.
The USC Aiken choral singers gave renditions of “First Noel” before Mayor Teddy Milner, joined by Aiken City Council members, took the stage to offer holiday greetings and introduce the man of the hour, Kris Kringle himself, before the tree at the center of Newberry Street was illuminated.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
