O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum: Rochester tree lighting kicks off Christmas
Santa poses with Isla Durant infront of his temporary sleigh-car. Photos by Mari Huglin
Santa, the Grinch and carolers join together to sing.
Kids and parents joined in the festivities enjoying cookies, crafts and hot coco.
Adam Murphy tells children about the annual Christmas Tree lighting.
Santa arrives in a classic automobile to bring Christmas cheer.
The Rochester Christmas tree was lit for all to see.
Santa says hello to children.
Kids pose in front of the lit tree.
3 girls smile as they enjoy the festivities.
Crafting equipment to make ornaments was avaliable for use.
The Grinch made a surprise appearance in Rochester.
Kids waited to say hello to Santa.
Letters to Santa were a popular evening activity.
Santa chats with some more kids.
Two friends pose as they share the Christmas spirit.
Rochester Police Chief Assad and Pastor Colby Olson watch as the tree is about to be lit.
One child smiles excited for the tree to be lit.
Santa poses with Isla Durant infront of his temporary sleigh-car. Photos by Mari Huglin
Santa, the Grinch and carolers join together to sing.
Kids and parents joined in the festivities enjoying cookies, crafts and hot coco.
Adam Murphy tells children about the annual Christmas Tree lighting.
Santa arrives in a classic automobile to bring Christmas cheer.
The Rochester Christmas tree was lit for all to see.
Santa says hello to children.
Kids pose in front of the lit tree.
3 girls smile as they enjoy the festivities.
Crafting equipment to make ornaments was avaliable for use.
The Grinch made a surprise appearance in Rochester.
Kids waited to say hello to Santa.
Letters to Santa were a popular evening activity.
Santa chats with some more kids.
Two friends pose as they share the Christmas spirit.
Rochester Police Chief Assad and Pastor Colby Olson watch as the tree is about to be lit.
One child smiles excited for the tree to be lit.
ROCHESTER — The Grinch crashed Rochester’s Christmas tree lighting but the fun and festivities continued with Santa and a tradition that is over 40 years old.
Sunday, Nov. 30, family, friends and neighbors gathered at Rochester Congregational Church to light the Rochester town Christmas tree, write letters to Santa and share holiday cookies.
Kami Medieros, Sarah Paiva and the Rochester Events Committee organized the event. The Committee was first started in March with plans to celebrate Rochester all year long.
“The event itself, the tree lighting, has always been a tradition…The community comes together, we sing, we do some caroling and then we light the tree,” said Paiva.
The Rochester Tree Lighting is one of Paiva’s favorite Rochester traditions. She loves how it welcomes and grows the community.
“It's getting the community out, getting all of us together. A lot of us are born and raised here so it's a nice place that we all come back to be together,” said Paiva.
Carolers gathered together to sing songs with Santa and even take pictures with Santa and the Grinch himself.
When asked who she preferred, 8-year-old Emilia Durant said she liked the Grinch better than Santa because the Grinch “gave us presents.”
Emilia was excited to come to the event and said, “It's cool and my dad works here. I got to help and I like to help,” she said.
Emilia was most excited for the tree to be lit and said her favorite holiday tradition is when her mom bakes cinnamon rolls. Emilia also helped set the event up earlier in the day.
“I helped set up the stuff, and that was it. Then I helped get rid of the cookies,” she said with a smile on her face.
For Christmas she hopes to get a new iPhone case and anything Stitch, the alien from the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch, themed.
Pastor Colby Olson was excited to build community and remind Rochester of the importance of being in community this winter season.
“It's always important to bring the community together and be able to share different experiences, particularly during Christmas,” Olson said.
Olson reiterated that laughing together and supporting each other is important.
“It's really beautiful when people gather as families and enjoy the time together and share those social moments and even as a community being able to gather and talk about things to work through life together,” said Olson.
Medieros and Paiva hope to grow the ceremony next year, engaging more and more Rochester residents.
“I'm hoping in the future to make it much bigger and make it a weekend ordeal. And we're looking for recommendations from folks,” said Medieros.
