More than 1,000 residents gathered at the Fayetteville firehouse last Friday to celebrate the upcoming holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony sponsored by the Village of Fayetteville Recreation committee.

“It’s the start of the holiday season and a chance for the village to give back to the community” said Mayor Mark Olson. “We think it’s a quality of life thing and another way to make Fayetteville special.”

The night started with a performance of dancers from the Guzman Dance Studio and visits from Rudolph the Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Refreshments were served and holiday music was provided by Fayetteville’s court clerk Lisa VanTress, her husband John VanTress and Fayetteville’s own Justice James Hughes on bass.

Throughout the night, horse-drawn wagon rides were offered, which brought people through the streets for a winter ride accompanied by singers who led Christmas carols. This part of the annual event has gotten so popular in recent years that there were four horse drawn wagons compared to the two wagons needed when the tradition started, Olson said.

Soup and chili was provided by Pinnacle Investments and raffle prizes were donated by Hess and Hullar’s Restaurant.

The biggest event of the night that brought a lot of excitement to the crowd was the arrival of Santa on a firetruck immediately following the lighting of the holiday tree, located in Triangle Park.

Kate Smith, a Fayetteville resident, said she and her sister, Karen Pierson, have been coming to this event for the past five years and they decided to bring their two nieces to meet Santa.

“I think it brings people out at a time that is so important for people to be out and about,” Smith said. “It’s a good promotion for the village of Fayetteville because it’s a really great place to live.”

Village Trustee Daniel Kinsella said one of the long standing traditions of the event is the Memory Tree Fundraiser, located on an evergreen tree right outside of the firehouse.

The Memory Tree started in 1979 with the idea to illuminate an evergreen tree with blue bulbs that represent forget-me-not flowers in memory of a loved one who has passed. The Memory Tree will continue to be lit throughout the holiday season as donations are made.

“Everyone gets together and has a great time,” Kinsella said. “It promotes community relationships with residents and local organizations. The kids have a good time and they get to see Santa.”

Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].