Homer chamber spreads holiday cheer at tree lighting

By Megan Pacer • December 11, 2019 5:30 am
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The holiday tree outside the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center lights up for the first time this season on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the chamber and visitor center in Homer, Alaska. Mayor Ken Castner turned the lights on while community members enjoyed s’mores, hot chocolate and carols from the Homer Swing Choir. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The holiday tree outside the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center lights up for the first time this season on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the chamber and visitor center in Homer, Alaska. Mayor Ken Castner turned the lights on while community members enjoyed s’mores, hot chocolate and carols from the Homer Swing Choir. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

The holiday spirit is back in town thanks to the annual Holiday Tree Lighting put on by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center last Friday.

The visitor center strings the large tree behind the building with lights each year and invites the public to celebrate turning them on, along with carols, crafts and visits with Santa for the little ones. Homer Mayor Ken Castner was the one to turn the lights on this year.

Following an introduction by new Chamber Director Brad Anderson, the dozens of community members gathered for the event enjoyed hot chocolate, s’mores made by roasting marshmallows in a campfire nearby, and carolling from the Homer High School Swing Choir under the direction of Kyle Schneider.

The public was also able to pop inside to warm up and get photos with Santa Claus. There was a separate room for holiday crafting, and representatives from the Homer Truffle Co. were there to hand out even more holiday cheer in the form of their delicious chocolates.

Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.

Lev Meyers, 3, shows a piece of chocolate handed out by Homer Truffle Co. to a large, festive moose at this year’s Holiday Tree Lighting event put on by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the visitor center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Lev Meyers, 3, shows a piece of chocolate handed out by Homer Truffle Co. to a large, festive moose at this year’s Holiday Tree Lighting event put on by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the visitor center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Emma Rader, 6, talks to Santa Claus before getting her photo taken with him at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting event put on by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the chamber in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Emma Rader, 6, talks to Santa Claus before getting her photo taken with him at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting event put on by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the chamber in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Community members roast marshmallows over a fire to make s’mores during this year’s Holiday Tree Lighting event Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Community members roast marshmallows over a fire to make s’mores during this year’s Holiday Tree Lighting event Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

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