City holds annual tree lighting event

Nearly 200 people attend ceremony

Simpsonville, S.C. — Almost 200 people surrounded on Thursday the City of Simpsonville Christmas Tree during the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Mayor Paul Shewmaker and Miss Simpsonville Teen Gracen Vaughn led the crowd in a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown to the lighting of the 22-foot artificial tree with a 5-foot Nativity star topper. Watch the countown and lighting of the City of Simpsonville Christmas Tree in the below video:

Preceding the countdown were a beautifully spoken invocation and reading from the Book of Luke by Pastor A. A. Dicks Jr. of Mount Zion Church and a Christmas carol medley sing-along led by local piano teacher Steve Eager.

Simpsonville Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell said the City could not have asked for a better follow-up to the 1st Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony held in 2019.

"From the turnout to the music to the lighting of the tree, the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony was a great way to kick off the holiday season," Campbell said. "Seeing smiling kids staring up at the lit tree is what an event like that is all about. We appreciate all the families who came out to help summon the Christmas spirit on the lawn of City Hall."

Sherry Roche of RE/MAX Results of Greenville sponsored a table for receiving letters to Santa Claus from kids and handing out free treat bags. Roche said greeting parents and children at the event was a joy.

"Many children brought hand-written letters, colored pages and homemade crafts for Santa, while others simply left a note to thank him or express a desire for 'peace and love,'" Roche said. "Each child received a treat bag with candy canes, assorted sweets and seasonal stickers. The smiles were priceless! I truly felt blessed to serve at this year’s ceremony." 

Below are photos from the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony:

The City of Simpsonville Christmas Tree was lit Dec. 3, 2020 at City Hall in the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony | City of Simpsonville

Two kids receive treat bags from Sherry Roche of RE/MAX Results after they dropped off their letters to Santa Claus at the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony. Roche said the smiles were 'priceless' | City of Simpsonville

Mayor Paul Shewmaker was the emcee for the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony | City of Simpsonville

Miss Simpsonville Teen Gracen Vaughn was a special guest of the City at the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony | City of Simpsonville

Steve Eager, a piano teacher in Greenville, led a Christmas carol medley sing-along at the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony | City of Simpsonville

Spectators line a portion of the sidewalk around City Hall at the 2nd Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony. Nearly 200 people attended the event | City of Simpsonville