OXFORD – The start of the holiday season was marked with this year’s annual “Holiday Tree Lighting on the Park,” held Nov. 29. The weather was cool and the gathering was delightful. There was an inspiring choir, the United Brass band, Santa, roasting chestnuts, cookies and smiles everywhere.

The honorable Oxford Village Mayor, Terry Stark, donned his formal top hat, welcomed everyone for coming out and gave a special thank you to emcee Jim Baldwin and the Oxford Lions Club for providing the gingerbread cottage-sound system that was being used.

The Oxford Academy High School chorus student volunteers lead a sing-along of traditional Christmas carols. There was a pause for the announcement of the primary school winners of the Recycled Holiday Ornament Contest by Mayor Stark, followed by more singing.

This year there was a special ceremony for the grand illumination of the LaFayette Park Christmas tree. Two lucky “honorary tree lighters” were selected by Tim McDonald, the Primary School principal, to become part of the program. Those students, Nicholas and Paige Cirello, came up on the band stand and emcee Jim Baldwin got everyone to join in the countdown, “…five, four, three, two, one."  The kids threw a special red and green switch, and the tree sparkled with lights! The crowd cheered heartily and sang, “O Christmas Tree.”