Children and snowflakes alike swirled around Healey Square Saturday evening as Oak Bluffs celebrated the start of the Christmas season. Although the snow didn’t stick, the tradition certainly has.
Gary Buckley said that the tree lighting has been a family event for years.
“It’s something I’ve done with my wife even before I had kids. Obviously, it’s become more important since then,” he said.
He added that he and his family had been in Maine for Thanksgiving, but drove back to make sure to make the ceremony, which is hosted by the Oak Bluffs Association.
As an employee of the highway department, Mr. Buckley helped put up the tree and lights ahead of the event.
For other families, it is a newer tradition. Quinn deBettencourt, age three, enjoyed repeatedly jumping off the benches to practice flying like Rudolph. It was her family’s second time coming to the event.
“It’s about the community,” said her father, Todd deBettencourt. “Santa shows up at the end and the kids get a thrill of it.”
Terry McCarthy has been a part of the event for years. This season, he was responsible for handing out the reindeer antlers.
“I just love the way it brings the whole community together in the winter,” he said. “It’s the joy on everybody’s face.”
Sean McMahon led everyone in singing Christmas songs, accompanied by Rose Guerin, dressed as Mrs. Claus.
Oak Bluffs select board chair Gail Barmakian had the honor of flipping the switch to light the tree. The revelers responded with a rendition of O Christmas Tree.
With the tree lit it was time for the grand entrance of Santa Claus, who arrived by firetruck rather than sled. Families took photos with the man in red and kids danced to another round of Christmas songs sung by Brian Weiland, who was dressed as a Christmas tree.
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