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Photo by Jon Anderson
June Little, 2, checks out decorations on the official Christmas tree for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at the city's tree lighting ceremony Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
People gather around the official Christmas tree for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at the city's tree lighting ceremony at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Santa Claus arrives in a fire truck at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Greystone Elementary second grader Margaret Ann Palmer, left, and Brock's Gap Intermediate fourth grader Regina Galicia-Castilleja help Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato light the official Christmas tree for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
The Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir sings a holiday tune at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Hoover Beautification Board volunteer Charlene Young gives out Little Debbie Christmas tree treats at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Darshan and Shilpa Patel and their daughters, Mahi and Iraa, pose for a photo with Santa Claus at the Hoover Public Library after the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
River Richburg, 2, drops a letter to Santa Claus in the mailbox at the Hoover Public Library after the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Will Lochamy, co-host of The Morning Blend with Reg and Will on Birmingham Mountain Radio, serves as master of ceremonies at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato poses for a photo with Brock's Gap Intermediate fourth grader Regina Galicia-Castilleja and Greystone Elementary second grader Margaret Ann Palmer after they lit the official Christmas tree for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Abigail Bartholomew, 6, of Inverness, left, and Violet King, 4, of the Hillside Hoover Apartments play in the snow from the artificial snow machine at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Hoover City Administrator Ken Grimes and his wife, Kelly, at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
The Whole Scoop ice cream shop serves hot chocolate at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
People line up for hot chocolate and coffee at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Jetia Samples, left, takes a photo of girls she is babysitting at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024. The girls, from left, are Abigail Lynn, Eden Evans and Erin Evans.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Carter O'Hara checks out decorations on the the official Christmas tree for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at the city's tree lighting ceremony at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Abigail Bartholomew, 6, of Inverness plays in the snow from the artificial snow machine at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Vishal Shah, his daughter Kahali Shah and mother Taru Shah pose for a photo with Santa Claus in the Hoover Public Library after the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
People pose for a photo with Santa Claus at the Hoover Public Library after the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
People line up to see Santa Claus at the Hoover Public Library after the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
The Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir sings a holiday tune at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
People watch the Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir sing holiday tunes at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
The Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir sings a holiday tune at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
People video the Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir singing holiday tunes at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
The Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir sings a holiday tune at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Joyce Sanchez catches snow falling from the artificial snow machine at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
The Brock's Gap Intermediate School choir sings a holiday tune at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Hoover City Administrator Ken Grimes leads a prayer at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato welcomes the crowd at the official Christmas tree lighting for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Will Lochamy, co-host of The Morning Blend with Reg and Will on Birmingham Mountain Radio, introduces Brock's Gap Intermediate fourth grader Regina Galicia-Castilleja and Gresytone Elementary second grader Margaret Ann Palmer as the official Christmas tree lighters for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Brock's Gap Intermediate fourth grader Regina Galicia-Castilleja, left, and Gresytone Elementary second grader Margaret Ann Palmer are introducted as the official Christmas tree lighters for the city of Hoover, Alabama, at Hoover City Hall on Dec. 3, 2024
'Twas 22 nights before Christmas when all through the city the creatures were stirring to see something pretty.
The lights and garland were hung on City Hall with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were bundled in green and in red while visions of tree lights danced in their heads.
Moms and dads were gathered there, too, to see the city’s Christmas tree light up like new.
Two kids from Brock’s Gap and Greystone were there to flip the switch and show off the glare.
When across the lawn there arose such a clatter, the kids turned their heads to see what was the matter.
Away to the road they moved with a dash to see Santa arrive on a fire truck in a flash.
The moon shined above as kids played in the snow, and Santa went to the library after shouting “Ho Ho.”
Kids stood in line to see the jolly old elf, and he smiled and made mental notes to himself about which kids were being good and which ones were not, so he’d know whether to bring gifts or just sleep in his cot.
There was no Dasher, no Dancer, no Prancer, no Vixen, no Comet, no Cupid, no Donder or Blitzen.
They must have stayed home to rest for Christmas Eve when they make lots of deliveries to those who believe.
The mayor said hello to everyone who was there, and the city administrator led in a prayer.
Will Lochamy broke away from his radio show to emcee the ceremony and tie it up with a bow.
Miss Hoover’s Teen showed up with her crown to welcome the crowd and turn frowns upside down.
The Beautification Board and other workers made City Hall look nice, and the 43-foot-tall tree was shining with 62,000 lights.
The Whole Scoop served hot chocolate, coffee and ice cream, and volunteers gave out Little Debbie Christmas treats as part of the team.
The choir from Brock’s Gap sang holiday tunes, and before you knew it, the night was through.
But before everyone left and drove out of sight, I heard someone exclaim “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
