Santa Claus Arrives in Duluth

“I think this is the largest crowd we’ve ever had,” Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris said as she peered out from the stage where she was welcoming everyone to the 33rd annual Lighting of the Duluth Christmas Tree Saturday (Dec. 3).

The comment prompted an off-stage discussion between the mayor and Councilmembers Greg Whitlock and Jim Dugan. Whitlock thought the crowd numbered about 3,000. Dugan insisted it was 5,000. “There’s a lot of people out there,” Dugan said. They finally agreed on at least 2,500 attendees.

The lighting of the tree on the was sponsored by the city of Duluth and the Duluth Fall Festival Committee. Whitlock and Kay Montgomery co-chaired the event.

The ceremony began with a performance of holiday music by the Duluth High School Chorus in formal attire. Students from Chattachoochee Elementary School followed on stage singing Christmas carols.

Six girls in candy cane costumes delighted the crowd with their “Rockettes-style” routine. And as the elementary school chorus sang “Christmas in Any Language,” students attired in costumes from many lands paraded across the stage.

State Rep. Brooks Coleman, who emceed the ceremony, noted that the superintendant told him recently there are now 129 languages spoken in Gwinnett County Public Schools. How wonderful it is to have students representing so many countries, Coleman said.

The switch was thrown lighting the tree when soloist Eloise Daniel from Duluth First United Methodist Church hit a high note in “O Holy Night.”

Then there was lots of excitement as Santa arrived in a sleigh pulled by two live reindeer. Coleman identified them as “Prancer” and “Dancer.” The other reindeer, he said, “are getting their hooves and antlers polished for Christmas Eve.”

The crowd flocked to Santa, and a long line formed to pose for photos with him. Children climbed or were hoisted into the sleigh for parents to snap pictures. Across the way, families climbed into the sleigh next to the tree for photos, posed in front of the lit tree or amidst the illuminated reindeer at its base.