THURMONT, Md. – Thurmont welcomed the holiday season with its annual tree lighting ceremony at Mechanicstown Park in the center of town.

About 100 people gathered in the small park to sing Christmas carols and light the town Christmas tree on Nov. 24. Santa Claus also made his first appearance in town this season, speaking with the children he met.

“I’m proud to say we live in a wonderful little town and I hope you agree,” Mayor Martin Burns told the town.

Gary and Mary Beth Shaffer of Sykesville donated the tree to the town for the third year in a row. Pat Weddle, Butch West and Carol Robertson decorated the park and tree with new decorations that Catoctin Colorfest, Inc. bought for the town.

Weddle has been part of the decorating committee for eight years. “I do it because I love my little town,” she said.

Following the Mechanicstown Park ceremony, even more people gathered at the Cozy Restaurant to sing more carols and share in cookies and hot apple cider. More importantly, they came to watch the 615,000 indoor and outdoor Christmas lights turned on.

“In 1962, there was one ornament in Cozy,” Cozy General Manager Vickie Grinder said. “We’ve come a long way.”

Norman Gibat and Holly Rife provided music for the evening and the Catoctin Canaries also sang carols for the crowd.

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