In previous years, the giant tree downtown usually is lit the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year it was moved to the next week. If the organizers moved it to try and draw more of a crowd - well I think the succeeded. There was an insane amount of people downtown, much more than any other year we've gone. There was more going on as well.
We got downtown at 5:30pm (Santa's arrival and tree lighting were suppose to be at 6pm). Carol singing started shortly after we got there but they had sound system issues so no one could hear the wonderful choir from Interlochen. BUT, unlike other years, Santa actually arrived at 6pm so we weren't standing out there very long.
The kids complained and were squirrely the whole time we waited. Alex LOVES this event, talks about all year and he was our loudest complainer this year. Ben and I were not having fun. It was snowing some really wet snow that was almost rain. And they complained about not being able to see.....
Then the countdown began and the tree lit up and it's amazing how all the kids (and most adults for that matter) react. It's just getting plugged in, you can see the cords....but for some reason it seems magical. Ben and I were talking later about how we both think every year during the complaining portion that this isn't worth it and we aren't coming back again....until that tree lights up.
Then the kids were excited. They got up closer and waved at Santa. We walked down the street and saw the reindeer (real, live ones!) and that was a huge hit. Although Alex was disappointed that Rudolph wasn't one of the ones that came downtown as he really wanted to see how his nose worked. We saw some ice sculpture carving and drank hot chocolate. And even though it was the same temperature and possibly even a little wetter, there was no more complaining.
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