Virtual tree lighting video now online; Public can tour holiday display each night

(Nov. 30, 2020) Ocean Pines on Saturday lit up White Horse Park with 40 Christmas trees decorated by community members and local groups and businesses, during the 10th annual Hometown Christmas Tree Lighting. 

As of Monday morning, a video of the virtual tree-lighting ceremony had been viewed 4,300 times.  

Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Program Supervisor Katie Goetzinger hosted the virtual ceremony, and Xfinity sponsored the event.  

“Although not exactly as we had hoped, our Hometown Christmas Tree Lighting went well as a virtual event,” Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue said. “The trees are beautiful, everyone did such a great job decorating, and a special thank you to our event sponsor, Xfinity, for participating and helping us to be able to continue with this event.” 

Ocean Pines will light up the trees each night in White Horse Park, through mid-January, and the public is welcome to walk through the more than three dozen colorful displays. Social distancing and masks are encouraged.  

“We look forward to seeing everyone walking through our little winter wonderland, enjoying the trees, and getting a little sense of the holiday season,” Donahue said. 

Goetzinger said she is grateful for the response to the virtual ceremony, but also hopeful that the event can return to normal next year.  

“Seeing the positive response the tree lighting got makes me look forward to next year even more, when we can hopefully all be together again,” Goetzinger said.  

Video of the virtual tree lighting is available here: https://youtu.be/PkxybBno4-Y.