More than 100 people showed up for Winona Lake’s annual tree lighting in the Village at Winona Saturday night. In photo 1, Jefferson Elementary School sixth-grader Layla Stanford, 13, (in bucket lift) lit the tree with the help of the Winona Lake Fire Department. After a 10-second countdown, the tree lit up and a small child ran to give the tree a hug. In photo 2, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived via golf cart to downtown Warsaw Sunday night to kick off the Countdown to Christmas event. Sunday’s inclement weather grounded Santa’s original helicopter arrival plan. In photo 3 Keagan Hapner, 5, came all the way from Mentone to see Santa Claus in downtown Warsaw Sunday evening. He was happy to see Santa and let him know that he had talked to Santa’s helper earlier in the day while getting his Christmas tree.
