Drive-in Dinner and North Pole Visitor Welcome Holiday Season
Despite a string of lights shorting out, the 12th Annual Community Tree Lighting was a fun night for all. Photo courtesy of Kelly Gerlach.
By: Kelly Gerlach, Copper River Basin Child Advocacy Center
Last year’s season of cancellations makes holiday events a treasure in 2021. For the 12th Annual Community Tree Lighting, we kept the outdoor theme from 2020 in order to optimize community health and enjoy our moderate weather and reflection of holiday lights in the darkness.
People admired the cheery decorations while sipping to-go cups of hot cocoa to ward off the chill. As in year’s past, Copper River residents bundled up and gathered around the tree to sing carols as we kicked off a month of holiday celebration. Covid-19 protocols didn’t deter our Alaskan santa, who appeared with a snowy bearded smile, distributing candy canes and well wishes for an amazing holiday and 2022.
Another variation from past tree lightings was a meal served to go. People enjoyed a hearty bowl of chili, crackers, popcorn and brownies in their warm cars against the backdrop of our brightly lit tree.
Happy to keep the tree lighting tradition alive, 2021 attendees described it as “delicious” and “out of the ordinary.”
Tree lighting attendees were served hot cocoa to keep them warm while enjoying the decorations and lights. Photo courtesy of Kelly Gerlach.
While we were grateful to proceed with this event despite mitigation measures, we did have several of our key players have to cancel at the last minute due to sickness, which makes us extra thankful for the people who stepped forward to help this year!
While I was able to cut the tree on our property, a huge thanks goes to Zane Gerlach for helping load and tie the tree and to Chad Gerlach for constructing a solid stand so the towering tree will stay upright. Also a big thanks to the Upstream Learning Student Council, led by advisor Mickey Dysinger, who offered much-needed assistance with stringing lights for the tree, decorating, and helping distribute meals to the community during this event. Madison Carlton, Bella Ranck, Mia Ranck and Brynna Gerlach, we appreciate you! A huge thanks too for our last minute special North Pole visitor for making a way to our tree lighting, much to the delight of our tiny Copper River residents!
As always, thanks so much to the American Legion, Terry Keizer and Julie Sine for helping host this event and for the electricity to keep the tree lights shining. We are grateful for KCAM and the Copper River Record for promoting our tree lighting on the air and in print. We also greatly appreciate CAC Director Gina Hoke and the Copper River Basin Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors for their commitment to the safety of families in the Copper River Basin.
While our 2021 tree lighting was different than in years past, people left with full stomachs and memories of caroling beside a brightly lit tree, a jolly and festive Santa, an unprecedented experience of cheer and a way to exchange a season of challenges for one of gratitude and joy.