WAXHAW:
Friday, November 26th, 2010 
by John Tiley

The weather was crisp and clear if not downright nippy last Friday night as the Town kicked off the holiday season with its annual Holiday Festival of Lights ...and what a job they did. With a reported 50 thousand lights (and an additional 20 thousand more planned for next year) they are really lighting up “The Downtown Green” with the Christmas Spirit! The affair was well attended by locals and, with the absence of Mayor Gardner, Laura Pettler did a great job MC'ing the event.

Laura Pettler

   What a great voice that Lady has. As long as I can remember we have been able to count on Laura to show up and participate in Town events and I for one, was pleased to see her involved Friday.

   Also, the Choir from Waxhaw Baptist did an excellent job singing a whole series of carols. The festivities were punctuated with a brief visit from Santa as he took a carriage ride past the center stage.

   As we move further into the “silly season” as some call it, I realize just how lucky we are to live in Waxhaw and appreciate the efforts by the Town and the locals to enhance our experience.

I have watched over recent years as the town's efforts to transpose that otherwise boring strip along the tracks into a park like experience has gone a long way to pulling together and enhancing the ambiance of our fair town.

   With this streach of land now referred to as the Downtown Green, you can almost see the ghost of the old train station, right in the middle ...still bustling with turn of the century passengers. All very reminiscent of a Rockwell Painting. Not many other places I have been to go to the extent that Waxhaw does to make spending time in town such a pleasure. Although other venues such as Mcaddenville and the Speedway might offer far more extravagant shows, none can offer the underlying sense of place that only a town as rich in history and local culture as ours can.

   As the night wore on, the temperatures dropped to the point I was wishing I had worn a warmer coat. Thankfully, after a few of those “Complimentary Hot Chocolates” I was feeling

Just one of many beautiful window displays.

much better, although I do have to admit as the event came to a close, I was happy to get to my car and get the heater cranking ….so yes dear reader, its looking, and now beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas. All we need is a little snow on the tracks to complete the picture. And, of course, for Santa to make a return trip.

   Santa, after checking out the show...