Holbrook eased into the holiday season Friday night with the kind of small-town warmth that can make even the coldest evening feel comfortable. A few hundred people packed into Gillespie Park for the annual tree lighting, filling the space with kids darting between friends, neighbors catching up and the steady hum of a crowd that was genuinely happy to be there.
The park’s walkways were dotted with vendors offering hot food, desserts, artwork and knitted winter wear. People wandered from booth to booth, picking up gifts and snacks as part of the evening’s tradition. What could have been a quick stop for families turned into a slow stroll as people lingered at booths, catching up with friends and sampling what local makers had to offer.
Christmas carols floated through the park all evening, some playing through the sound system and others performed live by the Rockin’ Roadrunners, a children’s choir from Hulet Elementary School or by Pete Johnson who delighted everyone with saxophone covers of the classic Christmas hits. Their voices added a bright, earnest charm to the night, and the crowd didn’t hesitate to join in on familiar songs.
When the countdown to the lighting began, the park settled into a quiet, expectant pause. Then, with one flip of a switch, the tree burst to life in a warm blaze of lights. A wave of “ooos” and “aaahs” rippled through the audience as the glow settled over bundled-up families.
By the end of the evening, as families drifted out of the park, it felt like Holbrook had truly stepped into the season, carrying home the glow of a community ready to celebrate together.
