Emmitsburg Celebrates An Evening of Christmas Spirit
James Rada, Jr.
Emmitsburg residents turned out in what many people felt were record numbers for the 29th Annual Evening of Christmas Spirit on December 4, 2017.
The evening began with the lighting of the town Christmas tree. It is something usually done on the town square, but because of the work on the square and sidewalks, it was decided to move the tree lighting to the Community Center. Many people felt this change was more conducive to hosting a crowd.
Youth choirs from Mother Seton School and Christ Community Church opened the evening with Christmas songs for the gathering crowd. Jeff Rajaski’s daughter, Maryn, attends Mother Seton School and sings with the choir, so they drove up from Frederick to be part of the evening. It was their first time attending.
“It’s a very nice event that kicks off the holiday season well,” Rajaski said. “It gets you into the Christmas spirit.”
Maryn said that she really liked having the people in attendance, singing the Christmas carols with the choir.
Following the short tree lighting ceremony, the crowd moved down to the Carriage House Restaurant for the rest of the evening. A line of children quickly formed at the entrance of the restaurant to meet with Santa. Other children were inside in a dining room, making Christmas decorations.
Jennifer Caballero’s three children—Skyler, Maddox, and Shyloh—were quick to get in line to talk to Santa. “They look forward to it every year,” said Caballero, who is an Emmitsburg resident. “I like the sense of community spirit here, and they love to see the lights.”
Caballero has lived in Emmitsburg twelve years. Before that, she lived in New Market and said she couldn’t recall the town having as big an event as Emmitsburg’s Evening of Christmas Spirit.
Outside, people could take a hayride or enjoy hot dogs, hot chocolate, and cookies. More food was upstairs in JoAnn’s Ballroom, as were the musical performances by area groups. Each year, around eight hundred hot dogs and thirty gallons of hot chocolate are served.
The Carriage House Inn sponsors the Evening of Christmas Spirit each year as a tribute to JoAnn Hance, who was the mother and wife of the Carriage House founders, Bob Hance and his father, Jim, respectively.
The community gathers inside and outside of the Carriage House in Emmitsburg to enjoy visits with Santa, craft making, hayrides, and goodies, during Emmitsburg’s annual An Evening of Christmas Spirit on December 4.
Photos by James Rada, Jr.
Visiting with Santa was one of the first destinations for many of the young children who attended the much-anticipated annual event, An Evening of Christmas Spirit.
Mother Seton School’s choir ignites Christmas spirit in the crowd, singing delightful Christmas songs.
Crowds gather to witness the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, held this year at the Community Center.
Following the short tree lighting ceremony, the crowd moved down to the Carriage House Restaurant for the rest of the evening. A line of children quickly formed at the entrance of the restaurant to meet with Santa. Other children were inside in a dining room, making Christmas decorations.
Jennifer Caballero’s three children—Skyler, Maddox, and Shyloh—were quick to get in line to talk to Santa. “They look forward to it every year,” said Caballero, who is an Emmitsburg resident. “I like the sense of community spirit here, and they love to see the lights.”
Caballero has lived in Emmitsburg twelve years. Before that, she lived in New Market and said she couldn’t recall the town having as big an event as Emmitsburg’s Evening of Christmas Spirit.
Outside, people could take a hayride or enjoy hot dogs, hot chocolate, and cookies. More food was upstairs in JoAnn’s Ballroom, as were the musical performances by area groups. Each year, around eight hundred hot dogs and thirty gallons of hot chocolate are served.
The Carriage House Inn sponsors the Evening of Christmas Spirit each year as a tribute to JoAnn Hance, who was the mother and wife of the Carriage House founders, Bob Hance and his father, Jim, respectively.
The community gathers inside and outside of the Carriage House in Emmitsburg to enjoy visits with Santa, craft making, hayrides, and goodies, during Emmitsburg’s annual An Evening of Christmas Spirit on December 4.
Photos by James Rada, Jr.
Visiting with Santa was one of the first destinations for many of the young children who attended the much-anticipated annual event, An Evening of Christmas Spirit.
Mother Seton School’s choir ignites Christmas spirit in the crowd, singing delightful Christmas songs.
Crowds gather to witness the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, held this year at the Community Center.