City of Williamsburg Mayor Clyde Haulman will flip the switch to illuminate this year’s live evergreen at a special Christmas Eve ceremony on Market Square in Colonial Williamsburg.
Christmas Eve events are free of charge and start at 5 p.m. with the 18th century tradition of firing the Christmas guns at the courthouse on Duke of Gloucester Street. During the 18th century, guns were fired as an expression of joy and celebration in salute to the holiday season. Following the gun salute, actor-interpreter Stephen Seals will read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at 5:25 p.m.
The tree lighting will occur at 5:30 p.m. when Haulman illuminates the tree with 6,000 lights. Colonial Williamsburg operations staff installed the lights, and members of the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg will participate in the tree lighting ceremony.
The tree lighting event is cosponsored by Colonial Williamsburg and the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg; the same two groups have sponsored the event since 1959.
