Mini-parade, military participation
2nd annual Honor Tree Lighting Ceremony expands in Old Colorado City

       Cub Scouts and color guards from Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base will march down a briefly closed-off Colorado Avenue to kick off the second annual Honor Tree Lighting Ceremony in Old Colorado City Dec. 10.
       Starting at 5 p.m., the 15-minute “mini-parade” will go from 27th Street to the plaza at 25th Street and Colorado Avenue, according to Lynda Dunne, who is organizing the event for the Old Colorado City Associates (OCCA) merchants group.
       Participants in that phase of the ceremony will be the Mounted Colorado Guard from Fort Carson, the Color Guard from Peterson Air Force Base and Howbert Elementary's Cub Scout Pack #6.
       During the ceremony, the red, white and blue lights in the plaza's 40-foot-tall tree will be turned on as “a tribute to our many brave troops stationed overseas and their families,” Dunne said, adding that “every branch of the military will be presented with an award of appreciation.”
       After the lighting, people are invited to stick around, hold candles and join Fort Carson's Harmony in Motion in singing Christmas carols for about a half hour, she said.
       The Honor Tree event is one of several in OCCA's continuing “It's Christmas in Old Colorado City” promotional.
       Upcoming this weekend are Breakfast with Santa at Meadow Muffins, 25th and Colorado Avenue, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and Santa's Old Town Workshop in Bancroft Park Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4. There is a cost for each of these activities.
       Children can also see Santa in Bancroft Cabin Friday, Dec. 2 from 3 to 6 p.m., and on various other days till Christmas Eve.
       For more information, see the Pioneer calendar or call 475-0955 or 633-6767.

Westside Pioneer/press releases