What is Christmas without a little holiday magic? That’s a question Mexico’s Village Square Association asked – and answered, with the planned lighting of a magic tree.
“We decided to do …
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What is Christmas without a little holiday magic? That’s a question Mexico’s Village Square Association asked – and answered, with the planned lighting of a magic tree.
“We decided to do something special for the community,” said April Thomas, owner of The Sparkly Pig and a member of the association. “It’s a nice outdoor activity.”
Activities, rather. There will be a lighting ceremony, caroling, dancing and a place to drop letters to Santa. The tree will bring color to the square throughout the holiday season.
The tree – located on the southwest corner of Mexico’s courthouse lawn – will be modeled on the popular Columbia attraction. Thomas explains that it will be bright and more dazzling than a typical tree, with a glowing palette that exceeds the typical red and green associated with the season.
The plan came together after the city’s Santa had to cancel his usual visit due to COVID-19. Social distancing would make the interaction between children and the jolly old elf awkward. But the association didn’t want Christmas to pass by without a special activity.
“This is something for adults and kids,” Thomas said.
A lighting ceremony will kick things off. It takes place on Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. In addition to the wow factor of that first burst of color, members of the community will sing, dignitaries will make a presentation and the Village Square Association will hand out coupons.
Over the following weeks, festivities will include dancers from Janet’s Dance Studio performing on Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. The square will host a Ladies Night on Dec. 10, with a Mens Night set for a week later. On those evenings shops are open until 7 p.m.
The man responsible for the original magic tree in Columbia calls it a “senseless act of beauty” designed to bring joy. Will Treelighter – the name he uses – wrapped lights around a crabapple tree in his front lawn back in 1995. It grew to be such a sensation he had to move to a location with more parking and seating area, setting up in Columbia’s Cherry Hill neighborhood in 2010.
Last year the tree involved more than 64,000 lights.
Since the magic tree phenomenon began, other communities have started their own. It will be a first for Mexico.
“This is something new and big for us,” Thomas observed.
