The weather outside was far from frightful.
In choosing Dec. 8 as the date for the annual Light Up Night at the Bradford Woods Reserve, organizers hit the mark with a mild day featuring temperatures comfortably in the high 40s, not bad for this time of year.
So perhaps Santa Claus didn’t really need his usual red suit to keep warm when he arrived on the scene, much to the delight of the everyone in attendance.
With Santa in tow and singing along, Bradford Woods Community Church music director Brianna Crawford led a round of caroling that included a second rendition of “Jingle Bells” at the request of young Ewan Leitzel, apparently a fan of that particular holiday favorite.
Then it was time for the lighting of a Frazier fir tree, with Mr. Claus doing the honors.
Afterward, guests were able to partake of cookies and, if they were kind of cold, warm up with hot cocoa, marshmallows optional.
The celebration took place amid the in-perpetuity green space of the 4.5-acre acre reserve, which is maintained by members of the Bradford Woods Conservancy. Many of them turned out for the occasion, including one who may have been sporting the aforementioned red suit.
Along with maintaining the Bradford Woods Reserve, the conservancy organizes a variety of events. The annual Earth Day observance already is scheduled for April 26, according to advisory board member Diana Berendowski, so mark your 2025 calendars accordingly.
For more information, visit bradfordwoodsconservancy.org.
