A large crowd came out to ring in the holiday season with the first Villages’ Christmas tree lighting Monday evening at Spanish Springs Town Square.
Villages Twirlers Captain Ann Pelle and Villages Cheerleaders head Gerry Lynch threw the ceremonial switch lighting up the tree as Emcee Billie Thatcher gave the annual holiday command.
Watch a video recap of the event here:
Thatcher, a Villages’ favorite who has been emceeing the tree-lighting ceremonies for a decade, led a sing-along that included “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “White Christmas.”
The second tree lighting ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square.
And the third tree lighting ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 at Brownwood Paddock Square.
