Mayor Tom Sibold was on hand to watch Covington City Manager Allen Dressler lead the official Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony from the front porch of Covington City Hall on Sun., Nov. 27.
Dressler began the ceremony by welcoming the large crowd and inviting Edgemont Elementary School’s kindergarten class to assemble on the steps leading to the front porch where he was conducting the ceremony via a microphone.
After the children were standing on the steps, Dressler announced that GPS 819 Company Dance troupe (the new name for Garlynda’s Patsy’s Dance Studio’s dancers to perform).
For Patsy Snead, it was her 30th year for providing dancers at the official City of Covington’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, but for Garlynda, it was her first year. Garlynda’s Fancy Feet and Patsy’s Dance Studio combined their businesses during the summer in order to enter future competitions and perform.
Garlynda’s Fancy Feet is located at 401 E. Main St. in Clifton Forge, and Patsy’s Dance Studio is located at 819 W. Main St. in Covington.
Garlynda’s Patsy’s Studio Company Dance also danced in the Town of Clifton Forge’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony before Thanksgiving Day.
Following the dance routine that featured the smaller dancers holding wreaths with white-lit halos, Dressler called upon the children assembled on the steps to sing.
After they sang their Christmas carols, Dressler called for the Christmas tree decorated with all white lights to be lit. The lighting drew a huge roar from the overflowing crowd.
Next, one of the City of Covington’s firetrucks with red lights flashing pulled up in front of Town Hall to enable Santa Claus to walk from the street through the crowd, up the steps, and into City Hall where he greeted and listened to children’s Christmas wishes.
The line to visit Santa stretched from the sidewalk in front of City Hall, up the steps, through the outside doors, past the foyer doors and into the chamber where the City of Covington Council meetings are held.
Sibold said, “This is a big crowd, the biggest that I’ve seen in many years.”
He added, “People are tired of COVID restrictions, and they want to get out and do things again.”
The City of Covington Christmas Tree Lighting was the first official ceremony conducted by Dressler, who earlier in Nov. replaced Covington City Manager Krystal Onaitis.
