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Hundreds gathered for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Tuesday evening at the corner of Stewart Parkway and Main Street. Students from Chocowinity Primary, John Cotton Tayloe Elementary, Eastern Elementary and Snowden Elementary gathered around the tree to sing Christmas carols and join Mayor Donald Sadler for the official countdown to light the tree.

“It is so wonderful to see all of the citizens out tonight to get our Christmas holiday season started,” said Sadler. “The tree lighting always seems to get the community into the holiday spirit and gives joy to my heart. And hearing the children sing Christmas carols brings back so many memories of when I was a child.”

Following the official lighting of the tree, everyone was urged to make their way down to the Harbor District Market, which was totally decked out in holiday flair, complete with free cookies, hot cocoa, and a visit from the man himself, Santa Claus.

“As the group charged by the City to oversee downtown growth, The Harbor District Alliance recognizes celebrating the holidays plays a huge role in bringing customers in for our small businesses,” said John Jesso, interim executive director of the Washington Harbor District Alliance. “The Christmas decorations around Washington’s Downtown have renewed the warm holiday spirit welcoming everyone who comes to visit. We are proud of our southern Christmas town, and we hope people continue to shop small this season.”

Other events planned at the Harbor District Market during December include:

Jingle Mingle

December 5

5 pm- 8 pm

Harbor District Market’s 6th Annual Christmas Market

December 7

9 am-5 pm

December 8

1 pm-5 pm

Ladies Christmas Luncheon (to be held upstairs in “The Meeting Room” a new event venue space. This is a ticketed event)

1 pm-2 pm

Pictures with Santa

December 14

10 am-1 pm

For more information about the events reach out to:

Randa Flournoy, Associate Director, Washington Harbor District Alliance and Harbor District Market manager

(252) 947-1487