More than 300 people turned out Thursday night for the 20th anniversary lighting of Mount Airy’s official Christmas tree. Eleanor Powell Hines, long-time member of Mount Airy’s Appearance Commission, was honored by being chosen to flip the switch on the tree.
“Mrs. Claus,” aka Eleanor Powell Hines, smiles after flipping a switch Thursday night to light Mount Airy’s official Christmas tree, branches of which are visible in the background, on the lawn outside the Municipal Building. It marked the 20th year of the event sponsored by the Mount Airy Appearance Commission, which annually selects a distinguished local citizen to light the tree, which for 2015 was Hines, a longtime member of the commission. She is assisted by an elf, Julian. About 300 people were on hand to enjoy music, hot chocolate and a visit by Santa.
Members of the Gentry Middle School Chorus perform a holiday selection in front of the newly lit tree under the direction of Blake McCraw, left.
Part of the estimated crowd of 300 shows its approval for entertainment held as part of Thursday night’s event, which included groups from Gentry Middle School and an adult band, Acoustic Harmonies.