Revelers enjoy first-ever Christmas Town Sonora lighting ceremony

Hundreds of residents and visitors came to the top of North Washington Street for Christmas carols and the inaugural Christmas Town Sonora lighting ceremony Wednesday evening across from St. James Episcopal Church.

Canon Anna Carmichael from St. James Episcopal Church gave a blessing for the new noble fir Christmas tree City of Sonora workers selected, cut, transported, erected, and decorated outside the Red Church last week.

“Holy creator of trees, bless with your abundant grace, our Christmas tree as a symbol of joy. May its evergreen branches be a sign of your never fading promises,” Carmichael said.

Sonora Mayor Mark Plummer extolled the city’s “local culture and traditions and the things that draw us together.” Plummer also wished everyone Happy Thanksgiv

ing and Merry Christmas.

“I look forward to us all having a wonderful season,” he added.

David Goldemberg, the Tuolumne County District 1 supervisor, praised the turnout and size of the crowd. He thanked Katie Dunn, executive director of the Sonora Chamber of Commerce, who helped organize the event as part of the chamber’s “Christmas Town Sonora” initiative.

“This is fantastic,” Goldemberg said. “This is so cool. All the work that’s gone into this, Katie, thank you.”

Erin Mcnair, 13, of Groveland, and Sonora residents Alice James, 13, Bree Igoe, 11, and Quinn Igoe, 13, sang Christmas carols in the parking lot outside the Sonora Fire Museum before the lighting ceremony.

Contact Guy Mccarthy at gmccarthy@uniondemocrat.net or (209) 770-0405. Follow him on Twitter at @Guymccarthy.

Guy Mccarthy / Union Democrat Young singers (from left) Erin Mcnair, 13, of Groveland, and Sonora residents Alice James, 13, Bree Igoe, 11, and Quinn Igoe, 13, perform Christmas carols before the inaugural Christmastown Sonora lighting ceremony Wednesday evening across from Saint James Episcopal Church.

Guy Mccarthy / Union Democrat Buddy the Elf, aka Jerry Lee, from the Sierra Repertorytheater production of “Elf, the Musical” speaks before the ceremony (above). Mike Jaime, of Jamestown (below, left) and Carla Schnepp, of Woodland, helped light the tree Wednesday evening outside Saint James Episcopal Church.

Guy Mccarthy / Union Democrat Saint James Episcopal Church is lit up Wednesday at the inaugural Christmastown Sonora tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Sonora. Cole Leonardo (below, right), who grew up in Sonora and is visiting family for Thanksgiving, brought his daughters to the tree-lighting event.

/ Union Democrat Guy Mccarthy Parker Igoe, 8, of Sonora, shares holiday spirit before the inaugural lighting ceremony Wednesday evening (above). A group includingtina Eaton,trish Peller, Nancy Peller, Logan Eaton, Matt Poole, and Kelly Poole enjoy a moment at Wednesday’s event (right).