Village tree lighting brings out community
Published 9:50 am Friday, December 4, 2009
CHESAPEAKE — It was an evening for proud parents as Triangle Park at Chesapeake was filled with moms and dads waiting to watch their children perform at the annual Christmas tree lighting for the village.
Charlie Baker had two daughters there who sang a medley of seasonal songs. Both Courtney Baker, a Chesapeake High student, and her sister, Kaitlyn Baker, a Chesapeake Elementary student, performed with their respective school choirs Thursday night.
“This is a great thing,” Charlie Baker said about the event. “It brings the community together.”
Singers from all three schools offered a variety of holiday songs from the traditional to pop classics, from a portable stage set up near the village’s Christmas tree. The live tree bore ornaments of blue and silver and was decorated by the Chesapeake Area Citizens Coalition.
Minutes before the concert was to begin Hannah King from the elementary school was waiting to go on stage with her classmates, Brenna Price and Emily Lambert.
“I love doing this,” Hannah said. “It is nice to sing for everyone.”
“I think it is really exciting and fun and I’m really happy I’m here,” Brenna said.
“It’s exciting,” Emily said.
After the concert and the arrival of Santa Claus the tree was lit. Then those attending were given cups of hot chocolate and cookies.
“The weather is beautiful. We have choruses from all three schools and because of that we have a large crowd of parents,” Chesapeake Mayor Dick Gilpin said before the event started. “This is another opportunity to bring people together for something that is not sports. It is just fun.”