Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud (right) is joined by student James Deller (seated) and his family to light the city’s tree Nov. 25 during Dearborn’s 38th annual holiday tree lighting at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
The city’s annual holiday tree is brightly lit Nov. 25 during Dearborn’s 38th annual holiday tree lighting at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – The city celebrated its 38th annual holiday tree lighting Nov. 25 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center with music, bright lights and family-friendly activities.
A small reindeer gave children a close-up glimpse of Santa’s sleigh power outside the center, where a fire pit provided the fragrant aroma of woodsmoke next to rainbow lights illuminating nearby trees.
The Dearborn Combined Voices, under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey, sang from the balcony of the COMPAC before the tree lighting ceremony, and later onstage with the Dearborn Community Band, under the direction of Jeff Oshnock, and with the Dearborn Youth Voices, under the direction of Vanessa El-Zein, which concluded with a sing-along.
The tree lighting, with Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, was helped by student James Deller, who was accompanied onstage by his family.
The tree lights, which were reportedly on a timer, began with an inauspicious start, but after several minutes, the programming kicked in and the evergreen was bathed in a bright, alternating rainbow-hued glow.
Hot chocolate and cookies were served in COMPAC the lobby, and free admission to the Festival of Trees holiday exhibit, along with visits with Santa, were featured in the Lincoln Ballroom.
The Dearborn Combined Voices, under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey, sing Nov. 25 from the balcony of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center as a prelude to the city’s 38th annual holiday tree lighting.
The fragrant smell of woodsmoke wafts from an outdoor fire pit Nov. 25 during Dearborn’s 38th annual holiday tree lighting at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
Above and below, the exterior of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is brightly lit Nov. 25 during Dearborn’s 38th annual holiday tree lighting at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
A child gets a close-up introduction to a reindeer Nov. 25 during Dearborn’s 38th annual holiday tree lighting at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.