Edgewood mayor John Link and Awtnot the Elf entertain the children Sunday evening with magic tricks. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
The city of Edgewood kicked off the Christmas season Sunday with its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Senior Center in Freedom Park.
Edgewood’s annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
As soon as the families arrived at the senior center, they sat at tables festooned with balloons all around the center, with coloring projects prepared to keep the kids entertained and celebrate the Christmas season.
Awtnot the Elf shows the children magic tricks with a deck of cards. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorMore magic tricks with Awtnot the elf. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
The center was decorated like a holiday fairyland, with Edgewood’s traditional moving figures. There are reindeer, as well as Rudolf who nods his head in the windows of a stable, and elves in various stages of preparing for Christmas.
Volunteers help sprinkle sparkly fairy dust into each child’s hand so they can help light the Christmas tree. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorEach child received fairy dust to light up the Christmas tree. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorSpecial fairy dust that sparkles. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorEach child who wanted the fairy dust loved it. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
Soon the families were herded outside to the giant fir tree standing just outside the doors in the circle. Elves and volunteers are at the door to give each child a little sparkly fairy dust, which they are advised to hold until Santa himself gives the okay to use the fairy dust to light up the Christmas tree.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on a fire truck. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorEdgewood Mayor John Link welcomes Santa and Mrs. Claus. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorAll eyes were on Santa as he talked to the children about throwing the fairy dust and helping to light the tree. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorThe children get ready to throw the dust and light up the tree. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
Families took shelter from the rain under an awning, while Awtnot the magic elf led the crowd in Christmas carols. Soon the crowd began to hear the strains of sirens, followed by a brightly lit fire truck pulling into the lot.
Arden Walters, 15 months of Edgewood, is ready to get down and have some fun. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorDashiell Walters, 4, is consumed with making stuff at the party. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
Mayor John Link was on hand to greet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and due to the rain, Santa hurried the count down to the moment when all the children threw hundreds of fistfuls of fairy dust into the air to magically light up the tree.
Theo Brown, 3, of Edgewood, likes that Rudolf’s nose lights up. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorMaybell Wu, 7, of Edgewood, dressed up extra Christmassy for the occasion. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorLawrence Bedford, 4, and sister Callan, 3, of Edgewood, let go of their balloons because they knew they could get them back. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
Once everyone was back inside, Awtnot continued to entertain the children with magic tricks.
Santa talks to Finn Bauerle, 10 of Edgewood who tells him what he wants for Christmas. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorBrooklyn Tierney, 7, and her sister Nora, 5, like posing with their mom, Kristin, and grandma, Terri Schmidt, all of Edgewood. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorKolby Popham, 20 months, is okay with visiting Santa if mom, Becky holds him. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributorEmerie Popham, 9, enjoys a quiet conversation with Santa. Photo by Patricia Scheyer | LINK nky contributor
