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WINONA LAKE – An estimated 500 to 700 gathered next to Letterwood, 802 Park Ave., Winona Lake, Saturday to see the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony put on by The Village at Winona.
The tree-lighting was performed by Jefferson Elementary School student Xander Jervis. He said lighting the tree was really scary going up the ladder, but it was very interesting.
While the Village has had a live Christmas tree since 2000, Managing Director for the Village at Winona Nick Hauck said the tree-lighting ceremony has been going on since 2008.
The tree-lighting ceremony is considered the kickoff for the holiday season at the Village.
“It’s like our Hallmark movie ceremony, so if you look around, there’s several hundred, I don’t know, 500, 700 people here. And it’s like a little Hallmark movie. Everybody in the community comes together, we light the tree, we take pictures, we get to hang out with Santa ...,” he said.
Hauck said all of the Christmas lights were turned on Saturday.
“There’s always been festive lights around and we just want to contribute to the community by having a really good light show and bring people down to the Village,” he said.
Before the tree was lit, there was a Toys for Tots collection.
People could participate in kid’s ornament making at Brick Alley Pavilion, train rides for all ages in the Letterwood brick paver parking lot and Christmas carolers throughout the Village at Winona from 3 to 6 p.m. From 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., there were free cookies and hot chocolate and Santa Claus made an appearance.
Hauck said the Village wanted to draw people together with the tree-lighting ceremony and put on a good event and “give thanks for what we have to be thankful for.”
