Andover held its annual tree lighting at the city’s Community Center, with Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting families and White Rabbit serving hot cocoa, s’mores and other treats.
Dozens of families took part in the festivities — roasting marshmallows at the fire pits, posing for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and building impressively large snow forts in the fresh snowfall.
Mayor Jamie Barthel thanked attendees for coming out and joined the crowd for the countdown to the lighting. Rep. Peggy Scott and Council Members Rick Engelhardt and Jonathan Shafto were also present.
According to a city Facebook post, the lit tree is a Colorado blue spruce that was originally located in the back of Hawkridge Park. The city wrote that the tree struggled to thrive there because it was surrounded by other trees.
Its new home outside the community center will allow it to grow as tall as 60 feet, the city said.