Downtown Havana kicks off the Christmas season with tree lighting and Santa visit

Over 100 people flocked to a corner of downtown Havana on the night of Friday, November 12 as Downtown Havana and Havana Main Street kicked off the holiday season with the lighting of the downtown tree and a visit from a special, holiday figure.

The evening in Havana brought Christmas early, although no complaints about early holiday spirit were heard.

Starting at around 5 p.m., families gathered at Alexander’s Lot (located at the corner of Highway 27 and 7th Avenue) to prepare for the arrival of a special man in red.

This year, Havana Town Manager Howard McKinnon donned the costume, putting up a remarkable show as this year’s Jolly Saint Nick.

McKinnon (aka: Santa) arrived via firetruck, transported to Alexander’s Lot shortly after 5 p.m., by the firefighters of Havana Volunteer Fire Department.

The lights and sirens brought smiles to the young faces - who cheered as ‘Santa Claus’ got out of the fire truck, greeting children and taking a seat at the base of the large, 20-foot tree that had been put in place by the town and Havana Main Street.

For the next hour, children visited with Santa, posed for pictures, and whispered their Christmas wish-lists to the man in red.

Meanwhile, adults enjoyed live music provided by Exit Smith, hot cocoa from the Havana Garden Club, and downtown shopping from merchants that remained open later into the night.

A special Christmas story was read aloud to the younger attendees (or young-at-heart attendees), all while everyone waited for the sun to set over Havana.

Once the sun sunk below the horizon, visitors and locals gathered around the 20-foot Christmas tree that had been placed on Alexander’s Lot.

The tree had been purchased by Becky and Ron Tiller, with Stones Home Center donating materials for the base, and Jeff Davis and crew setting up the tree.

Standing around the festively-decorated Christmas tree, everyone counted down after sunset - before Christmas magic (and Susie Alexander, owner of Alexander’s Lot) brought the tree to life as the glittering Christmas ornaments and lights lit up, announcing the start of Christmas in Havana.

“Havana Main Street would like to thank all who came to our community Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. It was an absolutely perfect evening made possible by delicious hot chocolate and cookies from the Havana Garden Club, wonderful Christmas music provided by Exit Smith, and a Christmas story for the children,” said Havana Main Street representative Janice Eakin. “We're especially thankful to the Alexander family for allowing us to use their lot for our events and to the Havana Main Street Design Committee for all their hard work decorating Havana for the holidays.”

Havana Main Street also extended a thanks to the Town of Havana, who decorate the downtown trees with Christmas lights each holiday season - adding to the special magic that the holidays bring to Havana.

Ashley Hunter - editor@prioritynews.net

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Downtown Havana kicks off the Christmas season with tree lighting and Santa visit

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