Story and photo by Doug Petrowski
A City of Brier crew spent Wednesday stringing more than 1,000 feet of colored lights on the tree that will be used for this Saturday’s community’s Holiday Tree Lighting event — and it’s a different tree than in years past.
The nearly 50-foot tree just west of the Brier Park picnic shelter was chosen for decorating over a tree used previously because of its appearance, said city worker Mike Barker.
In Mountlake Terrace, city crews erected the “tree” for its Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, placing a large frame constructed of more than 1,800 blue LED lights on top of the city’s water tower on 58th Avenue West. The lights have to be brought down and repaired each January, then put back into position in time for the tree lighting each year. It takes crews four to five hours to erect the “tree.”
Mountlake Terrace uses LED lights on its display because they use only 25 percent of the power — with twice as many lights — as the old standard lights replaced a few years ago.
The Mountlake Terrace Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 7, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Evergreen Playfield, 22205-56th Ave. W. The event offers free cookies, coffee and cocoa, with the Mountlake Terrace Elementary School Choir singing Christmas carols. Santa Claus is also expected to arrive at the tree lighting, escorted by a Fire District 1 fire truck.
Cash donations will be accepted at the event for the Michelle Ringler Recreation Scholarship Fund. Since 2002, the fund has helped more than 400 children register for recreation programs at the Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion.
The Brier Holiday Tree Lighting takes place at Brier Park, 2903-228th St. S.W., this Saturday, Dec. 1. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance at tree lighting, again brought to the festivities by Fire District 1. The event, with Santa’s arrival at 6:30 p.m., includes free hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes; carols will be led by the Brier Elementary School Choir. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace.
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