The towns of Edgefield and Johnston officially ushered in the Christmas season this past week with two separate Tree Lighting events, one in each town.

On Friday evening, sounds of Christmas filled the air as Antioch Baptist Church youth minister Landy Jackson and his wife Jenny and also Girlfriends for Jesus provided the music for the Edgefield Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, sponsored by the Edgefield Community Development
Association. Bob Jackson also sang accompaniment on one song.

Artificial snow fell on the Town Square as a crowd gathered to watch children picked from the audience flip the switch to light up the huge Christmas tree.

After the tree lighting, children took turns talking with none other than jolly ole St. Nick himself. Some had their pictures made sitting on Santa’s lap by Becky Prince of Becky’s Imaging.

“I regret that Mayor Durham could not be present due to illness,” said Charlotte Cheatham, Edgefield town clerk & treasurer, who took her turn sitting on Santa’s lap. “I know he had worked hard with the ECDA in getting ready and I know he was looking forward to the occasion.”

In Johnston, on Monday night approximately 100 to 150 people gathered inside the warehouse beside the Municipal Parking Lot to celebrate the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and to pay tribute to the season. This event was sponsored by the Johnston Development Corporation.

Booths were still open from the Farmer’s and Artists Holiday Market, which began at 4 p.m. Vendors displayed jewelry, Christmas decorations, pecans, art and other items. Outside, the smell of Boston Butts still cooking filled the air from the sale by the Johnston United Methodist Church to raise money for their Missions Fund.

Johnston Mayor Andy Livington welcomed everyone and Dean Campbell, chairman of the Johnston Development Corporation emceed the event. Christmas music was provided by the Johnston Elementary School Chorus led by Director Nicolas Murrell.

Johnston Town Councilman Frank Nicholson related the Christmas story from the Bible, after which Matthew Herring and Laura Wintrow sang several seasonal selections.

Later, Johnston Elementary School Principal Bruce Lee and Assistant Principal Kippy Kelley, accompanied by the Johnston Elementary school students chosen for their exemplary behavior in school activities, lit the tree as everyone shouted, “Merry Christmas!” The artificial snow machine spouted out snowflakes, giving an appearance of a genuine white Christmas.

A Sing-A-Long consisting of several Christmas carols, was led by Johnston Development Board member Debra Aston.

And of course, no tree lighting would be complete without an appearance by Santa.

‘It was great,” said John Leaptrotte who was there with his wife Jennifer and two daughters. “This is the first year we’ve gotten involved in the tree lighting, although we’ve lived here seven years. The tree is beautiful. We will definitely make it a part of our Christmas celebrations from now on.”

The Leaptrotte’s daughter Kylie Faye Taylor, who is a first-grader, was one of the students who helped light the tree. Her sister, Annabelle, looked on.