The carolers sang traditional Christmas songs, the Boy Scouts handed out hot cider and children romped around the Christmas tree, waiting for someone to throw the switch and illuminate the Douglas fir as darkness fell at Parmelee Farm on Sunday night.
It was the town's first-ever Christmas tree lighting event and it was a rousing success, judging by the crowds who attended. About 200 people waited patiently under the clear, moonlit sky, eating cookies and sipping cider, as they waited for the tree to be lit. They then helped count down to the much-anticipated lighting at 5 p.m., sending up a cheer when hundreds of small white bulbs illuminated the tree that was propped in the front yard by the farmhouse.
The Killingworth Women's Organization, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts contributed to making the tree lighting a success, as did organizer Tim Gannon, chair of the Parmelee Steering Committee.
