Elizabethton celebrates annual Fraser Fir lighting
Published 8:31 am Thursday, November 21, 2019
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde The Elizabethton Christmas tree shining bright after the annual lighting Tuesday night.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Getting ready to fire the muskets at the annual Christmas tree lighting in Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Shiloh Bennett-Bryant of Elizabethton spreading Christmas cheer in her Santa suit.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Lining up the perfect downtown Christmas tree shot.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Mike and Teresa Honeycutt of Elizabethton enjoy the annual tree lighting festivities.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Micky Seals and Nike enjoy the annual Christmas tree lighting festivities in downtown Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde A select group of young ladies give readings before the lighting of the Christmas tree in Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde The passing of the "flame" leading up to the lighting of the Elizabethton Christmas tree.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Chamber Chairman David LeVeau gives the commend to light up the tree Tuesday night in Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Let there be light. The switch is thrown to light up the giant Fraser Fir in downtown Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde The Elizabethton High School Choral department under the leadership of Debbie Gouge performs just prior to the tree lighting in downtown Elizabethton Tuesday evening.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Debbie Gouge and the Elizabethton High Choral Group sing carols under the Frasier Fir in Elizabethton.
Tuesday evening, residents of Elizabethton gathered to celebrate the annual Fraser Fir tree lighting as the holidays approach, and though the atmosphere was bright and cheerful, part of the celebration was bittersweet, as this will be the last time the Chamber of Commerce will host and organize the event.
Executive Director Tonya Stevens said the event was very festive.
“There was a lot of positive energy,” Stevens said. “We had a good crowd. It was a great atmosphere.”
The festivities went from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and featured musical performances from Sycamore Shoals State Park and Elizabethton High School. The national anthem came from the Happy Valley High School Trumpeters and members of the city’s new Main Street Program’s executive board officially turned on the lights, including Frankie Bailey, Kathy Shoun, Rachel Barker, Chris Cannon and Patti Whitson.
Stevens said her favorite part of the evening was watching the community get excited about everything.
“It is always good when we do the countdown,” she said. “They are all smiles when all of the sudden the lights come on.”
The event comes roughly a week after the chamber formally announced it will no longer host several long-standing community events, such as the lighting and the parade in December.
“We know we are still going to have involvement,” she said. “It is going to be picked up.”
She said she is confident the events themselves, including the lighting, will not go away.
“There are some great opportunities,” Stevens said.
The chamber has hosted the event for as long as Stevens has worked there, at minimum. She said they are currently working to rewire the lighting on the tree, seven or eight years after their previous efforts.
“This is a time for the community to rally around,” she said.
She said the chamber looks forward to seeing who carries the torch for next year’s lighting.
“We are excited to see the next group,” Stevens said. “Someone may have a brighter vision.”
In the meantime, the tree still glows brilliantly as the sun goes down. Amid the discussions about who will be doing it next year, this year’s celebration, Stevens said, was great.
“It was a wonderful evening,” she said. “The spirit was so alive.”
