Saturday Christmas extravaganza in Hartsville

Being runner up isn’t always bad. Mel Pennington rushed to The Messenger office on Monday morning, and with such gleefulness in his voice that could only be likened to that of child on Christmas morning after receiving the present of his dreams, announced Hartsville was about to get the runner up to the White House’s official Christmas tree.

The 27-foot Christmas tree is being erected at Burry Park in time for a city Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday at 6 p.m.

According to Pennington, parade chairman and the force behind getting a Christmas tree for Burry Park, the tree was narrowly beaten out as the official White House tree in a competition that is held annually to select a Christmas tree for the White House. The tree was grown on the Johnson Holler Tree Farm in Newland, N.C.

Pennington said he searched the Internet for tree farms specializing in large trees and found the Johnson Holler Tree Farm Web site.

Having a tree lighting service in downtown has been a dream of Pennington’s for several years, and he said he wasn’t about to let the fact that the tree cost $4,000 or that the city couldn’t provide funding for the tree stop him from realizing his dream. He spoke with Pam Johnson, co-owner of the tree farm, and during their conversation, he agreed to build her a better Web site in exchange for the tree.

Pennington said the saying “the Lord provides” rang true, and he is confident it would again as they prepare to bring the tree to Hartsville on Thursday, set it up and put lights on it in time for Saturday’s lighting ceremony.

“We are flying by the seat of our pants. I don’t know how we are going to get it back here. They have snow up there,” Pennington said.

Along with the tree lighting on Saturday evening, the Jerusalem Baptist Church Choir will perform Christmas songs; Mayor Michael Holt will light the tree. Pennington said he has all of his family baking cookies, which will be given to guests at the ceremony, along with hot apple cider.

During the second half of the program, children will be able to drop off their Santa letters to an official US Post Office Box, purchased and painted red, which was made possible by a donation from Lex West. Santa will be at the tree lighting service. Old St. Nick will respond to each letter mailed from the special delivery box.

Pennington said Dec. 6 will be a full day for Hartsvillians, starting with the Good Living Market, the Christmas parade at 10:30 a.m., the tree lighting at 6 p.m. and the Hartsville Community Players’ production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at 7 p.m.

Pennington said the parade looks like it will be one of the largest in recent years with numerous bands, floats and cars.

“Every year it grows,” Pennington said.

The Hartsville Middle School Band, Hartsville High Red Regime and the Lamar Silver Powerhouse Band will be marching in the parade. The McBee Rock Band will perform at Centennial Park before the parade.

Pennington has chaired the parade committee since 2005. He said he got interested the parade because he wanted to continue the work his grandfather did. Years ago, the business owners downtown would volunteer for certain jobs in preparing the downtown for the holidays. His grandfather was responsible for stringing lights across the street.

“Each year the same people came out to do it for the right reason,” Pennington said.

He said that many volunteers are still coming together to make the parade come off without a hitch.
“The city staff is going out of its way to make it happen,” he said.

The mayor will be the grand marshal, and Santa will be making an appearance.

“It is a wonderful collaboration between the city, the chamber and HDDA (Hartsville Downtown Development Association) and a lot of volunteers,” Pennington said.

This is a positive tradition for Hartsville that Pennington said he would be taking his children to for many years to come.

“We go around looking for Christmas lights and can’t find that many anymore,” he said. “This is a new tradition (the tree lighting). I know the city will come out and support it,” Pennington said.

Pennington never stops thinking about ways to improve the quality of life in Hartsville and to make a positive impact that will last for generations to come. Next year he hopes to get a tree planted on the Vista that will be a permanent Christmas tree.

“I love this town, and it has been my mission to do these things to make it better. My kids are here, and I simply love it,” Pennington said.