Photo: ‘Tis the season in Oneonta with Christmas tree light ceremony
Photo:
‘Tis the season in Oneonta
with Christmas tree light ceremony

ONEONTA – The annual Christmas tree lighting will be held virtually this evening, with Santa lighting the tree in a video broadcast at 6:30 p.m. on Destination Oneonta’s Facebook page.
Following the tree lighting, there will also be performance by holiday music by “country sweetheart” Krystal Lee, of East Meredith, recorded at Foothills Performing Arts Center.
With Oneonta Town Supervisor Bob Wood to his left, and Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig to his right, Santa Claus admires the City of Oneonta’s Christmas Tree just after it was lit this evening in Muller Plaza. As if scripted in a movie, snow began to fall just as the tree’s lights came on for the very first time. Christopher Brashear, pictured at right, and the Klipnocky Clangers handbell choir played holiday tunes to help get everyone in the holiday spirit. After the lighting, Santa occupied his cottage and began hearing youngsters’ Christmas wishes. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
To Learn How You Can Help Area Families This Holiday Season CLICK HERE.
ONEONTA TREE LIGHTING – 5-8 p.m. Join us for the lighting of the Christmas Tree. There will be caroling, shops, warm drinks, an ugly sweater contestwith winners announced just before the lighting, Horsedrawn wagon rides, and visits with Santa. Muller Plaza, Oneonta.Info, call (607)432-2941 or email detinationoneonta@gmail.com
SCHOOL PLAY – 7 p.m. 7/8th grade. Milford Central School, 42 W. Main St., Milford. Info, web.milfordcentral.org
4-H EARN-AN-ANIMAL – Applications available. Gives youth the opportunity to purchase, raise, and show an animal. Info, cceschoharie-otsego.org/events/2016/12/01/4-h-earn-an-animal-program-2017-applications-available
ONEONTA – More than 200 people braved the cold and crowded into Muller Plaza to help Mayor Russ Southard and Santa Claus light the Oneonta Christmas tree earlier this evening.
“I tried to light the tree earlier, but I couldn’t get it to work,” said Southard. “The maintenance guys told me I needed two things: Santa Claus and elves.” He had Santa, and Santa quickly dubbed all the people gathered in the plaza as his elves, and with a countdown from ten, the tree magically sprung to light.
Main Street remained shut down for most of the evening so visitors could view the gingerbread houses, warm up with some hot chocolate from The Red Caboose, enjoy dancers from the Donna Decker School of Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” and take horse-drawn sleigh rides through the center of town. The Oneonta History Center had their holiday train set running, and stores remained open late to invite shoppers in for gifts.