Annual tree lighting held at Stonegate Bank
Crowds of families were entertained with Christmas music and an abundance of different dance routines as they patiently awaited Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus’ arrival Thursday night in the parking lot of Stonegate Bank.
Elsie Stearns, who coordinates the event, said Donna Roach began the annual tree-lighting event more than 30 years ago. She said she became a part of the tradition in 1985.
Before the annual Bank Sponsoring Tree Lighting event started at Stonegate Bank, it was held at the Islands First National Bank before moving to the fire department.
Stearns said it has always been a community event.
“When I got back into banking, I knew I wanted to start it back up,” she said. “As long as I am around that tree-lighting event will continue and I am sure all the banks feel the same way.”
All five banks on the island sponsor the event. Bank of America provides the candy canes, Wells Fargo provides the funds for pictures with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, SunTrust arranges for the early arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Capital Bank provide the cookies and Stonegate Bank hosts and coordinates the event.
Stearns said the last 15 of the 30 years that the event has been held, the five banks have all joined forces and contributed in some way.
“It’s great that five island banks pull together to keep the tradition going,” Stearns said.
Pastor Pete Nelson, a retired pastor, provided the invocation at the beginning of the event Thursday to kick things off. Stearns said they try to bring a different person in every year to provide the invocation, so they can get all the churches on the island involved.
The evening, which began at 7, was packed with performances by the Pine Island Eagle Kids Choir, which sang Christmas carols, along with numerous performances from girls of all ages from Pine Island Dance.
Pine Island Dance has performed for the crowd for about 15 years, officials said.
A line slowly formed down the sidewalk from the main entrance of Stonegate Bank as the performances neared completion in anticipation of the arrival of that Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.
Once the performances ended, a countdown was shouted from the crowd to light the Christmas tree.
Edward Jones and Century 21 provided the Christmas tree for the annual tree-lighting event.
Stearns said the students at Pine Island Elementary School provided all of the ornaments for the tree, which they created.
The fire department has continued to stay involved over the years by bringing the main attraction to the annual event.
Sirens filled the air from the Matlacha Pine Island Fire Department fire truck as it drove into the bank’s parking lot with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, their elf helpers and a few reindeer inside. Once the elves climbed down from the fire truck, they began handing out candy canes to all the boys and girls.
A “Ho, Ho, Ho” was then heard as Santa Claus made his way out of the fire truck and began greeting the boys and girls at the event.
All of the youngsters in attendance had the opportunity to sit on Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus’ lap as pictures were taken and then given to the families before they left.
Deloris Richter traveled from Lehigh Thursday to watch her granddaughter perform many dances with the Pine Island Dance Troupe from Pine Island Dance. She said she was glad she attended the annual tree lighting for the first time.
“It’s very nice,” she said about the event. “A good attendance of all ages.”
Richter said she will probably come back for the annual event again next year.
Another family that attended the event for the first time came out to watch their son perform in the Pine Island Eagle Kids Choir from Pine Island Elementary School.
Gina and J.D. Hollway said the event was a great little island thing that gave them the opportunity to run into a lot of people they have not seen in a while. J.D. said the annual tree lighting and appearance from Santa Claus, which his kids were looking forward to, reminded him of small town Christmas spirit.
“I am very grateful that they put it on,” J.D. said. “These things are what makes our community special.”
Gina and J.D. both agreed that they would attend the event again next year.
A veteran of the event, Gene Clubb, said he has attended the event pretty much every year since it started.
“The banks have always done a good job,” he said.
This year the highlight of the event for him was watching his daughter Brittany, 15, dance in front of the crowd.
“It’s a really strong traditional event that happens on the island,” Stearns said. “Everyone seems so grateful.”
One of the things that she enjoyed the most Thursday was looking out into the crowd and recognizing so many faces, some of which are fifth generations.