Christmas officially came to town on Dec. 5 during the 21st annual tree lighting ceremony in downtown Plant City.
Hundreds flocked to McCall Park, 101 N. Collins St., to stake out the perfect spots around the makeshift stages as the sun began to set. Families popped into the Kandy Shoppe for sweet treats and across the railroad tracks for delicious beverages and then nestled into their chairs as the festivities began.
Choirs from First Baptist Church of Plant City sang some worship songs and Christmas classics to the crowd and Vice Mayor Nate Kilton welcomed all to the city and opened up the ceremony. After an hour of performances Kilton was joined on stage by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer hovered between them and the crowd.
The entire crowd joined Kilton and Mr. and Mrs. Claus in a countdown from 10 to officially begin the holiday season. When the timer ticked down, Santa Claus hit a shiny red button and illuminated the massive variety of Christmas light displays throughout downtown Plant City.
A more than 20-foot live tree in McCall Park was adorned with lights sponsored by individuals, families and businesses in honor or in memory of friends and loved ones. The event was free to attend, but there were several sponsors that helped bring the event to life. The funds went toward the Foundation of South Florida Baptist Hospital, which uses donations to benefit a variety of services and programs at the hospital.
For several hours following the tree lighting, families could be found slowly strolling the park and taking pictures under the twinkling lights.
SFBH and the City of Plant City co-sponsor the festive event each year. On top of live music, attendees also had the chance to get their photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus for a small fee. Mrs. Claus also had a “kitchen” in the street that served up yummy treats for attendees. The Robert Willaford Railroad Museum remained open for business throughout the jolly event and many families flocked to its elaborate displays for family holiday photos.
One-of-a-kind Christmas gifts were also up for grabs at the art market tucked away in the patio of Big Dogs, adjacent to the park.
