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The Town of Dumfries Christmas Tree was lit on Saturday night as children sang, and the Quantico Marine Corps Band played.
Mayor Jerry Foreman and town officials gathered outside town hall at 6 p.m. for the third annual ceremony. Despite rain and cold temperatures, more than 100 people came to the holiday gathering.
Children were invited to hang ornaments on the tree, and then the mayor, Vice Mayor Willie Toney, and Councilwoman Gwen Washington and Helen Reynolds all urged the crowd to count them down before lighting the tree.
After the tree lighting ceremony, Foreman read a Christmas story to children in the audience. The mayor held up the book in which he was reading to show illustrations to the children.
Children in the Dumfries Elementary School chorus, all dressed in festive red shirts, sang three songs for the crowd. Parents with children in the chorus grabbed their cell phones can captured video of the performance.
After the tree lighting ceremony, children were invited into the Dumfries Community Center to meet Santa and tell him what they wanted to Christmas.
“My two granddaughters were singing in the Dumfries choir, so we’re coming out for support because this is their first year in the choir,” said Sharon Webster, Woodbridge.
Her grandchildren Elysa and Makenzy are in the 4th and 5th grades, respectively. They sang with their school chorus at the event. Elysa said she hoped Santa brings her a Spriograph geometric drawing toy for Christmas.
A Christmas Parade will be held in Dumfires this Saturday, Dec. 13 staring at 1 p.m. The parde will run on Main Street (Route 1) from Town Hall to the Dumfires Shopping Center.
