Share: 

Rehoboth’s tree lighting and sing-along kicks off holiday season

Thousands of people attended the annual Rehoboth Beach tree lighting ceremony Nov. 25 at the Bandstand. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
November 26, 2022

Thousands of spectators gathered to ring in the holiday season at the annual Rehoboth Beach tree lighting and sing-along at the Bandstand Nov. 25. The ceremony was hosted by Clear Space Theatre Company. Carols preceded the 7 p.m. tree lighting.

A 20-year-old green giant arborvitae is serving as the City of Rehoboth Beach’s Christmas tree this year. The 20- to 25-foot tree was donated by Dean and Debbie Smith. Removal and transportation of the tree was donated by Harry Caswell and George Plummer & Son. Delmarva Power also assisted with tree installation at the Bandstand.

 

Maia Coker, 4, tells Santa everything she wants for Christmas.
Children and parents anxiously await sitting on Santa’s lap and telling the big man what they want for Christmas.
The Clear Space Theatre Company’s cast of “Elf” leads the carol singing.
Emma, 8, and Evan Hackman, 6, of Philadelphia get a fin hug from Smiley the Dolphin.
Charlie Cook, 3, enjoys “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Mela Pashkevich, 4, makes sure the bulb is real.
Jeanine and Steve O’Donnell, who were standing in for Dean and Debbie Smith who donated the tree, addressed the crowd gathered to sing and see the illumination of their donated tree. Shown with them are their grand daughter Ellie Glanden and their grand-nephew Knox Longheed.
Simone Kingree, 3, is mesmerized by the large tree.
Leading the carols with Clear Space Theatre Company are (l-r) Nancy Curry, Kelsey Murphy and Grace Riddle.
Kelsey Murphy brought rousing applause with her singing of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.”
Harry Caswell gets help with the tree from his grandchildren Molly and Ethan Caswell-Monack.

Most Popular

Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

Most Popular