Loudonville Christmas celebration features 16-foot tree, hot chocolate, Santa & Mrs. Claus

President of Loudonville Village Council Matt Young, second from left, leads a countdown to the lighting of the Christmas tree during a celebration at Central Park Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. Young and his family donated the 16-foot tree. With him is his fiancee Grace Scarberry, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

LOUDONVILLE − A large crowd gathered for the village’s Christmas tree illumination celebration Sunday in Central Park downtown.

The Loudonville village Christmas tree was illuminated Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 during a celebration that included hot chocolate, Christmas music and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Flanked by his fiancée, Grace Scarberry, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Council President Matt Young counted down from10 and the tree was then aglow in white lights.

Lighted Christmas presents are next to the 16-foot tree, which was donated by Young and his family.  He could not recall the last time there was a tree lighting in the village, and said he hopes for this event to be held again.

Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for a picture with Skylar Brumfield, 9, her siblings, Kinsley, 4, and Kaeden, 7, during Sunday’s tree-lighting in Loudonville. The family was part of a large crowd gathered for the event in Central Park.

After the tree lighting, kids and their families lined up to visit and pose for pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Residents also warmed up with some hot chocolate. Christmas music played as locals visited with one another and took pictures in front of the tree.

After his daughter, Emerald, 8, chatted with Mrs. Claus about her Christmas wish list, Robert Hollingsworth said it was great how the community could get together for an event like this.

Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for a picture with Loudonville Police Officer Adam McLellan, left, and Sgt. Sean Gorrell Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, during the village’s tree lighting.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Loudonville lights 16-foot Christmas tree during 2022 celebration