The Staying Alive Singers from DeSoto County will perform Christmas selections in Victorian costume during the tree-lighting ceremony.
OAKLAND — “Twinkle Lights on a Festive Night” will kick off Oakland’s Christmas activities this year, offering a full evening of children’s events, music, and the annual lighting of the town’s historic Christmas tree. The festivities are set for Saturday, Dec. 6, with something special planned for all ages.
A Twilight Children’s Tea Party will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Oak Street in downtown Oakland. Santa will make an appearance, and children will enjoy Christmas crafts and receive a personalized ornament to hang on their own tree at home. The event is outdoors, so families are encouraged to dress warmly. If the weather turns bad, activities will move to the Oakland Chamber of Commerce office at 304 Holly Street, next door to the Oakland Public Library.
At 5:30 p.m., the celebration shifts to the library grounds on Holly Street for the lighting of Oakland’s 65-year-old, 50-foot Christmas tree. Chamber President Mike Robinson was a member of the Cub Scout troop that planted the tree decades ago — twice, in fact, after a pony pulled it up the first time. The tree survived and has become a beloved part of Oakland’s holiday traditions.
The Staying Alive Singers from DeSoto County will perform Christmas selections in Victorian costume during the tree-lighting ceremony.
Following the lighting, the community is invited to gather in the Chamber office for a brief Christmas service.
Oakland’s Christmas Parade will take place the following Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3:30 p.m. Lineup begins at 3 p.m. at Town Hall. To participate in the parade, contact Marzet Bland at 662-647-7750 or Vera Walls-Tellis at 662-709-0440.
