ceremony to be held Friday night

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Nov. 21, 2000 10 PM

BRUNDIDGE ­ Brundidge residents will still be gobbling up leftover turkey when they begin celebrating the Christmas season.

On the evening of Nov. 24, Brundidge will have its annual Christmas lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. when Mayor Jimmy Ramage does the honors.

Then, downtown Brundidge will be aglow with the illumination of antique lights.

"Our lights are close to 50 years old," said Rue Botts, who is helping to organize the event.

Delatha Mobley, who’s a member of the Brundidge Business Association which sponsors the Christmas lighting ceremony, said residents are "proud of our Christmas lights."

She said truck drivers have even written to tell residents about how much they, too, enjoy the lights.

According to Mobley, a lot of travelers take a detour through the small city just to see the lights.

And, what’s a Christmas party without singing?

There will be plenty of singing the night after Thanksgiving.

Christmas carols will be sung just like in years past.

"It’s a tradition," Mobley said of the annual festivities which officially start the holiday season in Brundidge.

The evening will also be a good time to bend ol’ Santa’s ear. Santa is scheduled to arrive from the North Pole at 6:30 p.m. All the children ­ old and young, alike ­ can whisper their wishes into Santa’s ear.

Botts said it’s not unusual for many to come out for the night just to participate in the singing since carolling is more of a tradition from the past.

Both women encourage everyone to head downtown Brundidge Friday night for the family fun that will start the lights glowing.