As dusk dissolved to dark, Ontelaunee Park began to twinkle with lights drawing visitors to the pavilions, market area, and band shell where an impressive tree would finally burst into brightness and beauty, captivating everyone’s attention.

“I’m looking forward to the tree lighting,” young Brenna Christman said. “I like seeing all the beautiful lights light up.”

That about summarized the reason why so many came to the park on a misty Sunday evening to celebrate the annual tree lighting.

As if that wasn’t enough, there were animals to pet, cocoa to drink and carols to mark the season.

Quick to attract attention, three goats and a donkey greeted visitors just off the park entrance.

“We have a donkey named Dominic,” Jeanine Desher said. “And goats named Carlo, Eveyln and Shady. Kids could pet the animals of course and so could adults.”

Live reindeer also attracted visitors, foreshadowing the arrival of Santa just as the tree would burst into color.

A number of vendors lined the lower pavilion where they were sheltered from the intermittent drizzle.

Amy and Dallas Eyler traveled from Bristol.

“We’re a home food delivery service, right from farm to table and we’ve been doing it since 1916,” Dallas Eyler said.

“We started off as a butcher shop and then moved on to the home food delivery,” added his wife.

Local organizations serving the area joined the enclave.

Visitors could purchase homemade candy from Ebenezer Church or chat with physical therapists from St. Luke’s Rehabilitation or visit with representatives at the Northwestern Swim and Fitness table.

This free event was a joint venture of the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce and Heidelberg, Lynn, Lowhill, and Weisenberg townships, and presenting sponsors the Honey Done List Co. and Jerdon Construction.

“The community deserves events like this, [where neighbors could] get together to celebrate the season,” said Billly Miller of Honey Done List.

“The Chamber of Commerce does a tremendous job in coordinating the activities,” he continued. “I just slip in and help where I can.”

With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror, Ontelaunee’s tree lighting was the perfect entrée to the most wonderful time of the year.

The event took place on the last Sunday in November.