Upland hosts annual tree lighting ceremony

A crowd of approximately 200 people gathered before sunset at the Depot Park in Upland to witness the annual tree lighting ceremony and engage in other Christmas activities.

Taylor University Honors students volunteered at the event, and wore elf hats to distinguish themselves from others.

Pierce Church Worship, led by Audrey Felger, played Christmas songs throughout the night.

The crowd was led to sing along to songs such as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World.”

After the introduction by the Masters of Ceremonies Andrew Preston and Alex Reno, Pierce Church Pastor Chad Yoder gave a Christmas message.

Just before the tree was lit, Carol Curry read the poem “Light of Upland.”

Our Town Upland, a nonprofit organization, has been sponsoring the annual tree lighting in Depot Park since 1993. “The first year consisted of a member of the organization, Warren Ross, lighting a very small little tree. Today the tree is likely the largest tree in the area to be decorated for the holidays,” Daena Richmond, secretary and treasurer of the Upland Historical Society, said.

Just before 6 p.m., the tree was lit by the Voss family. “They operate Nearspace Launch, an aerospace technology and innovation center and Nearspace Education, a lab based learning environment here in Upland,” Richmond said.

Richmond said community members “…enjoyed the tree lighting ceremony, as well as music, a luminary walk on the Upland Greenway, train rides for the kiddies, cocoa and cookies, candy canes, crafts at Upland’s newest shop, Patent Pending, and most important, a visit with Santa in the Depot!”

After the tree was lit, Santa Claus made an appearance, and greeted families inside the Upland Depot.

The Luminary Walk leading to the Christmas tree consisted of a half mile of over 1,000 tea candles.

Richmond said this chair is, “believed to be the chair used in the local Methodist Church in Upland by Thaddeus Reade, first President of Taylor University. It is on loan to The Upland Historical Society from 1846 Enterprises. It was used by Santa this year to greet visitors in the Depot Museum during Upland’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting.” (Photo provided by the Upland Historical Society)