Holly Days lights aglow in Vienna's Jackson Park

VIENNA - Despite the cold weather, hundreds of Vienna residents gathered at Jackson Memorial Park Monday evening for the Holly Days Committee holiday lighting ceremony.

Students from Neale, Greenmont and Vienna elementary schools and the Jackson Middle School choir entertained the crowd with holiday carols as guests sipped hot chocolate given out in the Vienna Community Building.

"The holiday lights festival is a family tradition for a lot of people here," said Joyce Dotson, president of the Holly Days Committee. "We do it mostly for the children. They get so excited about coming out to sing. I think the ceremony gets bigger every year."

Last year, welding students from West Virginia University at Parkersburg created 10 holiday light displays for Jackson Park's holiday lights festival. While there are no new light displays this year, Dotson said next year's festival will bring exciting surprises.

"We are a small committee, but we are constantly trying to make it better," said Dotson. "And we're always looking for talented, new members."

Mayor David Nohe said the ceremony represents the start of the holiday season.

"It's always special to see the lights come on every year. It's a family tradition that means Christmas is coming. People forget their problems and spend time with their families. That's what makes this the most wonderful season of the year," Nohe said Monday evening.

"There's a great crowd here tonight, too. The kids just love this."

Holly Days Pageant Director Debbie Marshall introduced the royalty for this year's festival. Little Miss Holly Days is Katie Sprouse, Little Mister Holly Days is Mason Cyran, Junior Miss Holly Days is Brylee Weekley, Miss Teen Holly Days is Keya Bartlett, and Miss Holly Days is Soumia Smiri.

Pretty baby winner Olivia Eakle and Tiny Tot winner Eryn Gillian made an appearance.