Christmas tree lighting unites Davis community in spite of restrictions

PHOTO: E St. Plaza will be empty this year due to the Davis Christmas tree lighting being held
over Zoom.

By Declan Fee,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

For 27 years, members of the Davis community have come together to create a special night for citizens to enjoy the holiday spirit. The annual Christmas tree lighting in downtown Davis has long been a staple in the holiday schedule, a place for families to enjoy good food, listen to Christmas carols and even visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

With the restrictions placed on community gatherings because of COVID-19, this year’s ceremony will be virtual. It will have aspects similar to the regular ceremony, but many changes will need to be made. 

“At this point we hope to have the mayor of Davis there, welcoming people, and we hope to have the tree decorated by then,” said Bob Bowen, Davis’s Public Relations Manager. “Some of the traditional, community based choral groups are also expected to play.”

The event was originally held on the corner of 3rd and F St., by the Old City Hall. But after 20 years, the event was moved to the E St. Plaza because of a need for better equipment and more space. “As Davis evolved, so did [the Christmas Tree Lighting],” Bowen said.

People from all over Davis are integral in the planning and execution of this event. Davis High choir teacher, Karen Gardias, has brought her choirs to sing at the event every year.

“It is a great opportunity for everyone to get together,” Gardias said.

DHS junior Sophia La Perle has been singing at the Christmas Tree Lighting every year since second grade. It has been a significant part of her growing up, and her career in music. When she was younger she looked up to the high schoolers singing on stage, and now she looks down into the audience and sees the admiration on the children’s faces. 

“Everyone is there to support each other,” La Perle said. “It’s the community coming together.“

The city relies on the help of local businesses to set up and provide activities for the ceremony. Whether it has been Whole Foods providing refreshments, Varsity Theater showing How The Grinch Stole Christmas or the Hallmark Inn hosting a Shakespearean holiday event, the Christmas Tree Lighting would not be possible without the support of local businesses. 

For 25 years, Jeff Simons, owner of Watermelon Music, and the staff have assisted in setting up the sound systems, the lights and anything else that is needed. “We rely on the city to let us know what they need, when they need it, and we do it,” Simons said.

None of these businesses do this work for money or compensation. They do it because they feel the ceremony contributes importantly to the community. “It’s events like the tree lighting that make Davis a great place to live,”  Simons said.

Through the years, countless Davis citizens have committed time and effort to this event. Such people include City of Davis Management Analyst Carrie Dyer, who year after year helped plan and organize this event because of its contributions to the community. 

“I love any type of community event,” Dyer said. “For me, Davis is all about community.”