Tree lighting event ‘biggest yet’

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People of all ages came out to enjoy the tree lighting in 2009.

By Krystle S. Morey

Some 2,000 people from across the region ventured to Granville last Friday for the village’s annual tree-lighting extravaganza in Veterans Memorial Park.
“It was probably the biggest one we’ve ever had,” said Rick Roberts, village clerk.
Whether it was the lights, live reindeer, video synchronization, roasting s’mores by the campfire or horse-drawn carriage rides that the crowd enjoyed most, Roberts said he didn’t know.
Maybe it was the visit with Santa Claus by 426 children, who sat on Santa’s lap to tell the jolly old fella what they want for Christmas.
Jacob Lafrancois, 3, asked Santa for Lion Guard things. Lafrancois, of Castleton, Vermont, loves The Lion Guard, a TV series that follows the children of The Lion King’s Simba. The young lions, Kion and Kiara, are tasked with protecting the Pride Lands with their animal friends.
He was thrilled to receive a bag of goodies and a candy cane from Santa. He smiled when asked if he likes the holidays.
Denise Davies, corresponding secretary of the Granville Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber had so many children in line to visit Santa in the two-and-a-half-hour period that it almost ran out of goody bags to hand out. Volunteer Julie Appler left the event to buy candy at a nearby store, to make sure there were enough gifts for each child.
“Julie ran down and got 56 candy bars because we were afraid we were going to run out,” Davies said. “We would have run out if she hadn’t done that.”
Last year, 310 children saw Santa Claus.
“It was a huge difference,” Davies said.
Santa wasn’t the only famous character that could be found at the park. Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Grinch, Princesses Ana and Elsa, and Olaf the snowman were also there.
“She loves it. That’s what matters,” said Ty Khaler of his 2-year-old daughter Caydence. “We’ll definitely be coming back,” Khaler, of Hampton, said.
Santa arrived at the park via horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by Granville second-grader Riley Dunster.
Dunster was the lucky little girl who was randomly chosen to wave the wand and give the signal to light up the park.
Roberts watched the show from the crowd, as Dunster waved her wand. The lights came on and a video of Ana, a princess from the movie “Frozen,” played.
“We were about two-thirds of the way through it, and I could hear the kids singing, ‘Let it go, let it go,’” he said. “It was pretty neat. It was almost like a national anthem at a ballgame … not everybody was singing, but you could definitely hear it.”
This year’s festivities in the park were embellished, thanks to the donation of sponsorship by the Great Meadow Federal Credit Union, Roberts said. With the $7,500 per year pledged by the credit union, the village was able to feature live reindeer and purchase six stand-up heaters to help warm the crowd.
“You can definitely see that people appreciated the upgrades,” Roberts said.
The tree=lighting and other First Friday events accomplished a bigger goal than just spreading holiday cheer in the village.
Business leaders at Dunkin’ Donuts, Bernardo’s and The Quarry said they were exceptionally busy before and after the events last Friday.
“All of them said it was a record night for them,” Roberts said of the local business owners and managers. “The Quarry had to turn people away and Joe Chapman said (Bernardo’s) was busy from 4:15-10:30 p.m.”
“That’s what it’s all about,” Roberts added. “Hopefully that resonated other places too.”
“You use the tools that you’ve got and you make Granville the best place it can be,” he said.
Holidays in the park will continue through the season. Every hour, on the hour, from 5-10 p.m., passersby can catch a lights show, synchronized with music on 89.3 FM.