By Skylar Beelick, staff writer

Watching the lighting of the biggest Christmas tree in town can be a tradition for many families. This year it will happen Dec. 2 between 7 and 7:30 p.m at plainwell Hicks park.

Activities for families and friends will follow. The Mid-lake choir will walk around singing carols for people around the town that night.

Members of the Otsego/Plainwell chamber of commerce will be roasting chestnuts over a grill for anyone who would like to try them.

“I went every year when I was little with my family to see the Christmas tree lighting, it’s like a tradition” said Hayden Owe ‘19.

“The roasted chestnuts are really good, I actually tried them last year” said Denise Siegel.

Ransom Library Director Joe Gross will also be reading “The Night Before Christmas” for the families, and the United Methodist church will be providing hot chocolate and cookies inside Design Street on West Bridge St.

“I think this is a great way to kick off the holidays for families,” said Chris Haas project organizer of plainwell christmas tree lighting.

Every year a family donates a tree to be decorated in downtown Plainwell.

“The process of the public work department putting up the tree can take up to a day, while putting up the lights can take half a day,” said Denise Siegel.

“There are also two guys who dedicate putting up the Christmas tree every year” said Haas.

“In the past we haven’t allowed citizens put decorations on the tree but I think we should. Maybe during the children’s Christmas festival we could have children create an ornament and allow them to put them on the tree” said Siegel.

“I think this would be a good idea for kids. It could create memories for them,” said Serrina Stanfill ‘17.

“Much more families have come to the Christmas tree lighting within about the past 15 years. We use to do the lighting earlier in the evening but people were just getting out of work and busy. So starting it later in the evening has helped more families come,” said Haas.

“Last year we probably had a thousand people show up. Hicks Park was completely packed and there were a lot of people who wanted to walk around and look at all of the lights downtown. The weather last year was also really nice which helped attract more people,” said Siegel.