MANSFIELD – The rain didn’t keep them away, just like the freezing rain and snow didn’t last year. Christmas Time in the City in downtown Mansfield is part of the city’s history with the lighting of the Christmas tree in front of the carousel.
The carousel, children, and parents paused as Mayor Theaker counted down to the lighting of the tree. Hundreds packed into the enclosed carousel area this year as the rain fell, but spirits were no less dampened and cheers thundered through the room when the tree lights came to life.
Clark and Sandy Kreuz came to see the tree lighting. “I dragged him out here to see the tree lighting, and I wanted to see the historic church tour,” said Sandy. Though the couple are lifelong residents of the city, this was their first time to the annual event.
“It worked out well. It’s beautiful,” she said.
Element of Art, just across the street from the carousel, also filled with people coming to see the Richland New Hope Dance Troupe perform one of their latest dance renditions lasting 32 minutes. Aurelio Diaz, their instructor, said that Element of Art has been a strong supporter of Richland New Hope, hiring many of their workers as clerks.
Just down the street, the Tiny Tim Shoppe was full of parents waiting for their children who went behind the Christmas Town scenery to pick out and wrap gifts for family and friends. The Tiny Tim Shoppe has been a huge success in Mansfield.
Organizer Jamie Thompson said this was their tenth year and third year in that particular building.
“It was started by a downtown merchant, Lyn LaPorte, who passed away earlier this year. She started the Tiny Tim Shoppe. We’ve kept it going because it’s a popular event. We’re open from the weekend of the holiday parade up until the Saturday before Christmas,” explained Thompson.
Last year the Tiny Tim Shoppe had approximately 150 children every day they were open, but this year has had some days where the weather impacted them, so it’s hard to tell how it will end up.
Volunteers come in and help as elves to take children back to the tables of gifts and then to wrap them.
“We’ve got volunteers from Madison Key Club, St. Peter’s Key Club, and then a lot of the corporations in the area … especially StarTek and Richland Bank,” she said.
Merchants in downtown bring in the gifts for the children to choose from.
There were no carriage rides this year, a fact that was disappointing to some.
“We came for the carriage rides,” said Mansfield resident Peter Westman with his wife, Victoria. “We heard they were going to have them again and missed them last year.”
The evening, however, was not a total loss.
The couple loved the music and especially Dalton Derr and the group of carolers singing with him.
“They sounded so festive and wonderful. We’re glad we came,” Peter Westman said.
