PANAMA CITY — With the flip of a switch Friday, the city’s new 34-foot Christmas tree will for the first time illuminate the faces of Panama City children anxiously awaiting Santa Claus.
“It is exciting for children and represents the start of the season and knowing Santa Claus is coming to town,” said Jane Lindsey, chairwoman of the city’s Christmas committee and Downtown Improvement Board member. “As a child it seems like forever from the beginning of December to Christmas, but parents know different.”
The annual Christmas tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. in Gateway Park is a first in more than 40 years that the lighting will take place off the Panama City Marina’s grounds.
The marina had been the site for the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting since 1972. The magnolia trees at the marina’s entrance were used for the tree-lighting ceremony until recent construction efforts began on the marina redevelopment project.
City Commissioner Mike Nichols was tasked to be overseer of tree selection after the city committed up to $23,000 for an artificial replacement. For that price, Nichols wanted to make sure it had all the bells and whistles.
“I love live trees, but I think for now, what we’re going through, it’s perfect,” he said.
The tree bought from Pyro Shows Inc., the company responsible for the city’s Fourth of July firework shows, is a 34-foot, galvanized tree with LED lights nearly overlapping one another. The company billed it as a “20-year tree” and the city paid $22,857. City officials expect to find years of use for the tree even after completion of the marina project slated for 2016.
“Hopefully when we get the marina up we can have a live tree there and we can use this as the supporting tree in the future,” Nichols said.
WANT TO GO?
- What: Panama City Christmas tree lighting
- When: Friday, 4:45 p.m.
- Where: Gateway Park
- Cost: Free