34th Celebration of Lights illuminates downtown Albany

ALBANY – A large crowd dressed for a chilly night, with some wrapped in blankets against the cold, was on hand in downtown Albany Saturday to watch the lighting of the Christmas tree and the city’s annual parade.

Some 90 entrants wowed the audience, with dance performances, loud motorcycles and muscle cars, and floats brightly lighted with holiday themes.

“I come every year,” Hope Greer, who was at the festivities with her 5-year-old daughter Trinity Jordan, said. “It’s just something to do. There’s not much to do here, so when they do have something, we do try to support it.”

Asked what she likes about the parade, Jordan merely gave a huge grin.

For Audrey Davidson, Saturday’s event was her inaugural parade in Albany. She brought daughter Ashton Davidson, 2, along for the experience.

“We just moved here,” Davidson said. “This is our first holiday here.”

The theme for the 34th Celebration of Lights was “Toyland Fantasy,” and it included a Christmas village with food trucks.

An event of that magnitude doesn’t just happen, and the planning takes up half the year, Albany Downtown Manager Lequrica Gaskins said. The work included her office as well as multiple partners within the city and Dougherty County governments.

“We start six months in advance,” she said. “In order for it to be a well-organized event, we start in July.

“Things are great. This is great. All of the departments are part of the team. It starts with the Downtown Development Authority, but it takes everybody.”

The lighting of the giant tree on the plaza at the downtown Government Center was in memory of Femi Anderson and in honor of former Albany City Attorney Nathan Davis and Rutha Harris, an original member of the Freedom Singers.

Anderson was the co-founder of the Renaissance Connection Inc., which brought cultural events, including art exhibits, education programs and signature events like “Jazzin the Quarters,” to the community.

Davis served as city attorney for more than two decades, and as part of the Freedom Singers Harris used her voice to inspire change and raise funds during the civil rights movement. The Freedom Singers performed at the 1963 March on Washington.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f714026fc83d6150ab9a4350b4169940?s=100&d=mm&r=gStaff Photo: Alan Mauldin

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f714026fc83d6150ab9a4350b4169940?s=100&d=mm&r=g

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f714026fc83d6150ab9a4350b4169940?s=100&d=mm&r=g