ASHLAND – Ashland leaders are hoping to channel the positive energy residents have felt all year long into new a holiday tradition with the first annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Downtown Fireworks.
“People are excited about the improvements they are seeing around town, and we are living in an era when we can start new traditions,” Mayor Matt Miller said. “Hopefully this Christmas tree lighting ceremony is one of them.”
Following Ashland Main Street and Ashland Evening Lions Club’s annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 1, city residents and guests are invited to gather in the intersection of Main Street and Claremont Avenue to watch as Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with the mayor and his wife, Melanie, light the city’s new 40-foot tall Christmas tree at Corner Park.
The city parks department has build a special platform for the occasion, Miller said, and the city has a few surprises in store.
“If the night goes as planned, there will be wonderful effects,” Miller said. “The night will be full of theatrics.”
The ceremony will start around 7 p.m. and will last approximately 20 to 30 minutes, Miller said. A community choir will lead the crowd in traditional Christmas carols.
Once the tree is lit, a fireworks show will be set off from the parking lot of the municipal building. The parking lot behind city hall will be closed Saturday, along with and the back row of parking spaces along Town Creek in the county parking lot.
“Truly we will make history on Dec. 1,” Miller said. “This will be the first time we will host a fireworks display in downtown Ashland, and it’s the first time we will actually have an official City of Ashland Christmas tree.”
Paid for by a private donation from an anonymous donor, the fireworks show will be presented by Pyrotechnico of New Castle, Pa.
The tree was purchased by the city but is paid for in part by private donations, which Miller said continue to come in. The tree is artificial, and city leaders plan to continue using it for years to come.
Mitch and Danny Johnson of J&H Lawncare and Snowplowing donated their time to set up the tree. The Johnsons were assisted by Ashland Fire Department, which used a ladder truck to help install the top of the tree.
Ashland High School Bowling Parents Association donated $300 toward the red bows the city has placed on light posts downtown. The bows were created by Floral Garden Florist.
Miller isn’t the only one excited about the start of a new Christmas tradition in Ashland.
“Since we’ve started talking about this I’ve gotten emails, instant messages, Facebook messages and comments left and right out on the street from people of all ages about how excited they are that we will finally have a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in this city,” Miller said. “It will be fun.”
