Annual Chapel Hill Tree Lighting featured caroling, hot cocoa and Santa Claus
You could say it was pretty lit
The Downtown Chapel Hill Tree Lighting ceremony drew a record crowd Sunday evening for the annual tradition held in the University Baptist Church’s Memorial Garden. Hundreds of Chapel Hillians took part in the festivities, which included caroling and hot chocolate sipping.
The event, which was hosted by the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, was free to attend. The baked goods were also free, but the church was collecting donations from people for a trans-denominational charity.
Mr. and Mrs. Claus were available before and after the tree lighting for pictures. And we’d be lying if we said we didn’t take a photo with Santa.
Students Jabril Rice, left, and Makiah Belk, right, drink hot chocolate while waiting for the ceremony to begin
Santa prepares to light the 30-foot-tall Christmas tree
Santa connects two cords, thereby lighting the tree
Voilà! The humongous tree is lit
After lighting the tree, Santa joins in applause
Ahmad Ratliff, 18, holds his lyrics sheet while singing along to Christmas carols
A little girl, distracted during the caroling
All photos by Connor Atkins for The Tab UNC.