Special to the Enquirer  

Hundreds attended the annual Christmas in the Park event Dec. 3 when the Hartselle Beautification Association held its Christmas tree lighting at E.A.R.T.H. Park.  

HBA director Carolyn Wallace said 85 elementary school students performed Christmas songs for the crowd. Sweet Sensations provided cookies and the association provided hot chocolate.  

Wallace expressed her thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to make the event successful.  

“A special thank you to Greg Percy, Crestline Elementary, Dr. Beth Davis, Barkley Bridge Elementary and their awesome third and fourth grade students who sang for us at the tree lighting,” Wallace said. “Thank you, Mayor Randy Garrison for sharing with us about the meaning of a Christmas tree. Thank you to Chris and Deanne Warnick of Sweet Sensations Bakery for the cookies and coffee. Thank you to Melee Laney, Sherry Reagin, Ashlyn Hart and Dalton Hart for volunteering to help out with the tree lighting event.” 

Plans for next year are to make the event bigger and better, Wallace added.   

“It was a wonderful event. People love it and plans are for the Hartselle Beautification Association to continue sponsoring the event in the future and expand it each year,” she said.  

The winners of the tree contest were West End Church (Santa’s Pick), Hospice of North Alabama (Best Childrens Tree), The Friends of the Huie Library (Best Theme) and the Sonoco Division Office (The Talk of the Town.) 

The decorated trees will be at E.A.R.T.H. Park through Jan. 2 and will be lit every night at dark for the public to enjoy.  

E.A.R.T.H. Park is located at the corner of Barkley and Corsbie streets near downtown Hartselle.