Snowfall in the 60s at 2017 Hoover Christmas tree lighting
It was 63 degrees at the Hoover Municipal Center tonight, but that didn’t stop snow from falling at the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting.
An artificial snow machine brought many smiles to kids’ faces as the children marveled at the white stuff and tried to grab it in the air.
Hundreds of people filled the parking lot and grounds of the Municipal Center to help usher in the Christmas season.
Carter and Claire Manering, siblings from the Birchtree community whose mother died in October after a battle with breast cancer, joined Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato in lighting the city’s 43-foot-tall Christmas tree along U.S. 31.
The tree, which grew by several feet this year thanks to a new decorative top, has more than 62,000 lights, said Sharon Nelson, the city’s landscape architect. The Hoover Municipal Center and its grounds all together have more than 120,000 lights shining to celebrate the Christmas season, Nelson said.
One of the highlights of the night was the arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on a Hoover fire truck. Children cheered loudly and clamored around them as they made their way to a small hut where children could have pictures made with Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
The Bluff Park Elementary School choir sang three Christmas tunes to entertain the crowd, and the Spain Park High School Shades of Blue jazz band played numerous songs as people mingled throughout the night.
ABC 33/40 news anchor Christopher Sign served as master of ceremonies for the lighting ceremony. Cross Creek Church Pastor Chris Peters led in a prayer, and Darlene Pate, the administrative services supervisor in the city’s information and reporting department, sang the national anthem. Refreshments were provided by the Chick-fil-A at Hoover Commons.
Terry and Heather Nunn, residents of The Park at Hoover apartment complex along Lorna Road, were among the hundreds of people who attended tonight’s tree lighting.
Terry Nunn said they just moved to Hoover about three months ago from Atlanta, and he was encouraged to come to the tree lighting by a coworker.
“This is awesome,” he said. “It’s a great community-type gathering where you get to see and experience community festivities.”
Their 2-year-old daughter, Lilly, loves Christmas time and enjoyed getting to see the tree and lights and snack on a chocolate chip cookie, he said.
Former longtime Hoover Councilman Jack Wright, seeing the large crowd present tonight, said the event may be outgrowing the Municipal Center. City officials may want to consider moving it to the Finley Center at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex in the future, he said.