Usher in your holiday season by attending one of Murfreesboro’s most treasured traditions – the lighting of the community Christmas tree on the historic downtown square. The festivities begin on Friday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.
The event is Main Street Murfreesboro’s gift to the community and features special music and entertainment. Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron and Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland will join none other than Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves to ring in the season. Santa will arrive aboard a Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department engine, compliments of Chief Mark Foulks.
“I just don’t think it’s the holiday season until we light up that Christmas tree,” said Kathleen Herzog, director of the nonprofit organization that works to promote the economic, historic and community aspects of Murfreesboro’s downtown. “Thanks to our new county mayor, Bill Ketron, we have a live, planted tree on the courthouse corner so Main Street no longer has to search annually for a perfect tree to cut and transport. The 24-foot Norwegian spruce is a stunning addition to our downtown square.” Ketron will emcee the Dec. 7 event.
Herzog added a heartfelt thank you to the tree lighting’s sponsors: Murfreesboro Electric Department; Dempsey, Vantrease & Follis; Redstone Federal Credit Union; CSL Plasma; and First Vision Bank.
Community talent committed to performing includes:
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A mini-performance of the Center for the Arts’ “Miracle on 34th Street” (opening later in the evening);
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Two dancing groups from the Jimmie Lou Tate Dancers;
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Central Magnet School choir;
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Homer Pittard Campus School choir;
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John Pittard Elementary School choir; and
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a special performance by Murfreesboro Police Officer Skylar Harris.
Thanks to downtown’s lawyers, Santa will visit with children in the historic courthouse on the night of the tree lighting and on the following days:
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Saturday, Dec. 8, noon–4 p.m. (bring your own camera)
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Friday, Dec. 14, 6–p.m. (Shacklett’s Photography)
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Saturday, Dec. 15, noon–4 p.m. (bring your own camera)
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Friday, Dec. 21, 6–8 p.m. (Shacklett’s Photography)
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Saturday, Dec. 22, noon–4 p.m. (bring your own camera)
The Main Street Program is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center and follows the tenets of that program. Main Street capitalizes on the unique character of the courthouse square and the surrounding business district with the goal of transforming it into the cultural, social, professional and retail center of Rutherford County ... in essence, the hub of community life.
