Tuesday, December 9, 2008 by Denise Walsh

Aglow for the Holidays

By Michael Abermowitz, The Daily Reflector

By Michael Abramowitz
The Daily Reflector

Friday, December 05, 2008

The city of Greenville lit its holiday tree at the corner of Reade Circle and Evans Street on a cool, clear Friday night in front of about 150 revelers, officially starting the season and weekend festivities.

The ceremony, hosted by Uptown Greenville, attracted students, workers and families to the front of Sheppard Memorial Library. Volunteers from several local business and government organizations joined to decorate the plaza with luminaries. They served hot chocolate, coffee and sugar cookies from Starbucks and offered gift bags from Greenville Parks and Recreation to children.

Several dads with kids on their shoulders stood next to mothers with children cradled in their arms as the crowd gathered around the 16-foot tree and counted down the seconds before Mayor Pat Dunn, wearing a red wool cap that she brought back from a trip to China, pressed the button that lit the tree.

“The lighting of the tree and the art walk are a nice combination for families and their kids in the downtown area, “ Dunn said. “It's always a very pleasant and joyous time, and we look forward to it.”

Before the mayor stepped up to the plate to discharge her holiday duties, singers from the East Carolina University theater department stood before the tree and invited gatherers to join them in several Christmas carols. The Maggie Belles also sang “O' Christmas Tree.”

After the tree was lit, Dunn read Clement C. Moore's poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” She thanked everyone and invited them to enjoy the entire night's opportunities, including the traditional Uptown Art Walk to Evans Street, culminating at Emerge Gallery and Art Center.

The mayor praised Denise Walsh, executive director of Uptown Greenville, for bringing the holiday gala together.

“It brings the different sections of the community together to see things they wouldn't see otherwise, and it's a great opportunity for uptown businesses and restaurants,” Dunn said. “Denise has done a great job bringing it all together.”

Walsh said togetherness was her motivation.

“The idea is to invite families into the downtown area who might not have been here at this time, “ Walsh said. “We've done the Uptown Art Walk for a number of years, but some people haven't been here in a while, so they can see what kinds of businesses are here now and see that it is a nice, safe place to stroll around for dining and shopping and to spend time with family and friends.”

Walsh said her group would like to see a combination of students, working professionals and retirees, with people flowing in and out of businesses day and night.

“We want them to make it their neighborhood and have some ownership of this area,” she said.

Greenville resident Rosy Donnenwirth was there with her children, Carly and Madison.

“It's a great location for this type of thing,” Donnenwirth said.

Her kids finished with their list for Santa and proclaimed themselves worthy of his gifts.

“I've been a good kid this year,” Madison said.

Carly, 8, sang carols, “sort of,” and said it was fun. Asked what she wanted for Christmas, she responded, “I don't know where to start.”

Erin and Michael Reece brought their children, Enan and Clara, to watch the tree-lighting ceremony.

“I wanted the kids to have a sense of tradition. I knew my son would be excited about it,” Erin said.

She and her family also planned to do the art walk afterward and visit a couple of the stores Saturday after the parade along Evans Street.

Michael liked the idea of tradition for his family.

“This is a good thing to do each year,” he said. “My family had a Christmas tradition each year, but it was always at home. This is a way to feel a part of the community.”

The Greenville Jaycees Christmas Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Evans Street between 10th and First streets. That event will be followed by the Greenville Choral Society's “Winter Choral Festival” at Memorial Baptist Church, 1510 S.E. Greenville Blvd.

 

Contact Michael Abramowitz at mabramowitz@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9571.