By Carol Mowdy Bond
Contributing Writer
Piedmont’s Christmas season officially kicked off at 6 p.m. Dec. 4, when Piedmont Mayor Kurt Mayabb flipped the switch to light the towering Christmas tree located at 100 Monroe Avenue N.W. The annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting, part of this year’s A Piedmont Country Christmas, was a big hit.
The Christmas tree was sponsored by Scott Farms & Family, the Trammel Family, the Holcomb Family, First Baptist Church of Piedmont, Mayabb Plumbing, Rock’n M Farm, and Mayor Mayabb.
Traditional Christmas songs, peppered with Gene Autry-style Christmas classics, wafted through the air, while some festival-goers danced. Santa, who arrived on a Piedmont fire truck, made his way to the official Santa photo session porch. And families lined up clear down the block, waiting to have pictures taken with the jolly old fellow. Food trucks, a live nativity scene, and pony rides were part of the evening.
One horse-drawn carriage and one horse-drawn pioneer-style wagon was available for carriage rides, including one driven by Mayor Mayabb. Businesses decorated with colorful lights, and even the Simpson Grain Company Elevator was decked out in holiday fashion.
Both Woody and Jessie, from the movie “Toy Story,” were on the sidewalks, available for photo ops.
The crowd enjoyed free refreshments, with cookies provided by City Stop, popcorn provided by Piedmont Service Center and the Reich Family, and drinks provided by Regina and Roy Mayabb.
As well, a scavenger hunt took place, with prizes as follows: Girls 0-3 – princess carriage – Redus Heat & Air; Boys 0-3 – John Deere tractor – Mayabb Plumbing; Girls 4-6 pink go kart – Bradbury Homes, and three bicycles – Piedmont-Surrey Gazette; Boys 4-6 – orange go-cart – Bradbury Homes; , and one bicycle – Piedmont-Surrey Gazette; Girls 7-9 – two LED light up scooters – Tradesman International, and one bicycle – Piedmont-Surrey Gazette; Boys 7-9 – one bicycle – Mayabb Plumbing, and three bicycles – Piedmont-Surrey Gazette; 10 and up – all bicycles – Piedmont-Surrey Gazette.
December 4 was only the beginning of Piedmont’s holiday festivities. On Friday, December 11, Piedmont will host S-more Christmas from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. And on Friday, December 18, the city will host A Grand ol’ Christmas from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both events will take place at 100 Monroe Avenue N.W.
