-
Photo by Tim Sudela -
Photo by Tim Sudela
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree. The City of Beaumont will jumpstart the holiday season and invites the entire community of Southeast Texas on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Downtown Event Centre Lake with the largest Christmas tree lighting in town.
Origins of the Christmas tree dates back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome and continued with the German tradition of candlelit Christmas trees, which were brought by the German settlers to Pennsylvania during the 1830s. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were seen in the “Illustrated London News” with their children around a Christmas tree in 1846.
A few years later, Christmas ornaments arrived in the country and Americans were decorating their trees along with apples, nuts, popcorn and eventually electric lights.
It was 1931 when Rockefeller Center, located in New York City, displayed their first tree. That popular yearly tradition continues today as does the City of Beaumont’s annual Christmas tree lighting event.
Now in its fifth year, this free holiday event begins at 5:30 p.m. as Mayor Robin Mouton will lead the countdown to light the massive Christmas tree. There will be plenty of entertainment and fun for the entire family including fireworks, live music from Grinch the DJ as well as the Golden Triangle All-Star Band, which members include current and former students of Beaumont ISD, food trucks, outdoor movies, special appearances from the likes of Blue Santa, as well as other surprise attractions.
Representation from various city departments will be present including vehicles from both fire and police departments.
“The tree lighting is a wonderful family event for the entire community to kick off the magic of the season in our great downtown.” said City of Beaumont’s Director of Event Services, Emily Wheeler. “One of the greatest gifts we experience as city employees is seeing many departments come together to produce quality services for the community. Special events are no different and we appreciate the support we receive to make the magic happen.”
Hungry? Step right up and purchase delicious foods from the area’s popular food trucks like Bread Bus, Cracklin’ Kings, The Dudes Food, Funnel’d, KO Korean Grill Mobile, Mabel's Snow Cones and Mexican Treats, and Old West Smoke Company.
The evening will conclude with an outdoor showing of two holiday short films on the Parks and Recreation blowup screen – “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” and “Kung Fu Panda Holiday.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to picnic during the movies. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Festivities conclude at 7:30 p.m.
The Downtown Event Centre is located at 700 Crockett St.
A holiday themed version of Classic Movie Nights at the Jefferson Theatre begins Dec. 2 with “A Christmas Story,” “Elf” on Dec. 9, “The Polar Express” on Dec. 16, and “Gremlins” on Dec. 23.
The Symphony of Southeast Texas will perform a “Holiday Extravaganza” on Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Julie Rogers Theatre at 3 p.m. The SOST orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Chelsea Tipton II, will perform a program full of Christmas treats, along with featured artist and finalist of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” Daniel Emmet. Tickets are $50 for adults, $15 for children and can be purchased at sost.org.
Peanuts’ timeless holiday television special comes to life on stage with the national tour of “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage” on Sunday, Dec. 11, inside the Jefferson Theatre at 6 p.m. The critically acclaimed holiday celebration that the whole family can enjoy brings Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang together live on stage as they uncover the true meaning of Christmas and perform songs from the unforgettable musical score in a tribute to the legendary composer Vince Guaraldi. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
Grammy Award-winning trio, The Gatlins, will perform “Country and Christmas” inside the Jefferson Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. Ticket prices also start at $35 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
Larry, Steve, and Rudy Gatlin have dazzled audiences for more than 60 years with a lifetime of noteworthy achievements in their storybook career, including a Grammy for Best Country Song (“Broken Lady”), three ACM awards for Single of the Year (“All the Gold in California”) and others.
The Brothers have accumulated seven No. 1 hits, 32 Top 40 records and 22 studio albums. Larry ranks fourth as “Solo Writers” with the most self-penned Top 40 Billboard hits! His massive song catalog has been recorded by the who’s who of entertainers, including Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, Kris Kristofferson, Sir Tom Jones, Dottie West, Charlie Rich, Johnny Mathis and dozens of others, securing his legacy as one of BMI’s top solo songwriters of all time.
For more information, view beaumonteventstx.com.
-Chad Cooper, Entertainment Editor