Troy gets into the holiday spirit with tree lighting, decorating contest

TROY — The city of Troy is inviting the public to get in the holiday spirit Friday, Dec. 2, for its annual tree lighting and to keep the spirit going with its holiday lights contest.

Cindy Stewart, the community affairs director for the city of Troy, is helping organize both events and said that the tree lighting has emerged as a great tradition in Troy.

“I’ve been here going on 25 years, and we’ve been doing it since before I came here,” she said. “There used to be a makeshift tree that was just a pole with lights strung up on it in the shape of a Christmas tree, but we had a beautiful tree donated in 2005. A Colorado spruce tree was donated by Scott Sexton, who owned a tree lot. He gave us a (conifer) tree to plant at City Hall so we would have a Christmas tree around the holidays that we now decorate.”

The tree lighting will kick off at Veterans Plaza, outside the south entrance of Troy City Hall, located at 500 W. Big Beaver Road. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“The annual Christmas tree lighting is always at Veterans Plaza in front of City Hall. Santa Claus will be there. The Troy High School marching band will march in with him, and he will light the tree. The drumline will then march with Santa to his tent, and the kids there can go visit. The Athens High concert and treble choirs also will be performing that evening.”

Tim Hortons will sponsor the event, so there will be free hot cocoa and Timbits for attendees. Troy Auto Care and the Troy Auto Care/Troy Auto & Truck Center is the other key sponsor, ensuring that the event comes at no cost to the public.

“People should dress warmly, because everything is outside,” Stewart remarked. “It’s always nice when we have a few snowflakes to make everything seem festive.”

City officials will be on hand at the tree lighting and help formally kick off the holiday season for Troy.

“Families always look forward to the annual Christmas tree lighting,” Troy Mayor Ethan Baker said. “I hope that everyone will come out and enjoy the festivities. … It’s one of our favorite traditions.”

Troy also will be kicking off its annual holiday lights contest. The best-decorated homes in the city can be nominated, by the homeowner or anyone else, for the honor of best-decorated home.

“They submit a nomination by Monday, Dec. 5, via email to holidaylights@troymi.gov,” explained Stewart. “That should include a small-file-size photo, the name of the homeowner, the address, and please note that the decorations must be visible from the street. They should be lit up between 6 and 10 p.m. between Dec. 6 and Dec. 9 so the judges can go out.”

The judges will be unidentified city officials. Stewart said they aren’t looking for specific criteria; they just look for standout houses that make people go “wow.” The judges go to the nominated homes to pick the winners.

“It used to be that judges would go out and look for houses, but Troy is so huge now, we accept nominations from the homeowner or their families and friends,” she said. “We acknowledge families who go above and beyond when decorating their homes for the holiday season.”

Those with questions can contact Stewart at (248) 524-1147.

“The winners will get a lawn sign that says they are a holiday lights winner and they get a certificate signed by the mayor,” she said. “We also do a tour map on our website. This was very popular last year, so people can see the addresses and photos of the winners, and they can go visit the best decorated houses in Troy.”