I almost didn’t go to the tree lighting ceremony tonight. It had been a rough day, and I wasn’t sure if I was up to it. But I’d taken the day off work just so after six years I could finally attend one of these events. The closest I’d come before was watching from the parking lot of my store, but nothing beats being in the middle of things.

I met up with friends to pick out a few extra ornaments for our float for the Christmas parade Sunday, then walked up to The Venue where the DJ, Craig Taylor was already playing some holiday favorites. Blowup decorations filled the lot beside the chamber, perfect for pictures. Inside The Venue, all dressed up for the holidays, they were busy setting up hot chocolate and cookies.

While one friend hurriedly dressed in her elf costume, others arrived in their festive garb. The weather unusually cold for eastern North Carolina where we’ve had Christmases where we’ve been out in shorts and even a few where we had layers of white stuff coming down. White Christmases are unusual here, but they do occasionally happen. There’s a threat of snow for Sunday. Tonight felt cold enough to snow. As our new mayor said, this was long john weather.

We walked from Main Street up to Pearl to see the lighting of the water tower. After a few words from our chamber president, our new mayor, and our local sheriff, then our Emcee extraordinaire took over the entertainment promising a Christmas like the Griswolds, I sure hope not. I have seen Christmas Vacation, things did not go well for Clark and his family. But with timing just like Clark Griswold, the lights came on way before the countdown even began but everyone continued to count just for fun. We greeted friends and neighbors and walked down to Third Street to the town hall decked out in greenery and lights for the night. Back up Main Street where children were enacting the nativity. From there we stopped by The Blue Crab and took photos as Gingerbread Cookies! With a cup of coffee to warm us we continued up the road back to The Venue were more holiday decorations and a small firepit had been set up to make s’mores. Inside The Venue we sampled a couple of cookies and enjoyed a little time with friends before heading back home. A hayride down Main Street and crafts at the library gave the town a feeling of adventure. It was a perfect setting for a smalltown holiday romance. Perhaps I’ll write a story set in a small eastern North Carolina town.

Tomorrow is the craft fair at the Aurora Community Center and Sunday is our volunteer firefighters’ annual barbeque fundraiser and our Christmas parade, plus our final day of our craft fair. Come enjoy our smalltown holiday celebration. I will be at The Blue Crab Saturday, December 13th at 11 am, come out and purchase your last minute holiday gifts.