The Halls were packed as residents of Haines enjoyed one of it’s annual traditions, the Lighting of the Library, complete with caroling, crafts for kids, and a performance by local Haines School Dancers.
The Lighting hit it’s lowest point two years ago during the height of the pandemic as Children’s Librarian Holly Davis explained.
“We were here two years ago, on Saturday, but we were celebrating upside in the parking lot. And there weren’t as many of you catching the five singers from my school. But we did see a few Christmas carols right outside the library and white churches covering was miserable it was yeah, it was slushy. But we did trudge up through the slush to the middle of the track”
and we watched as a library employee turn off the lights and we all clapped and we all went home.
Friends of the Library Board member and local author Heather Lende, opened the festivities. Following the Haines Kid Dancers, there was caroling from Haines music teacher Matt Davis, Holly Davis, and their children Luke,JC, and Meg, as well as the Haines Acapella women’s choir. Friends of the Library board member Debbie Gravel shared her enjoyment at this years event.
well, this is our best one since COVID. So last year was a little more restrained. We didn’t have refreshments. We wore masks. This year. It was music. It was flash kids. It was songs good food. good cheer. It feels really like we’re getting back to him. This feels good.
Library Director Reba Heaton was instrumental in ensuring that the tradition of the tree continues.
“What I like about this library having a tree is it gives people another place to be in this season, especially when the weather gets really bad. So I’m glad it’s good to have it. It’s kind of the community tree. They have the one outside but you have to be outside to enjoy the inside and warm and reading the book.”
