THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511230220
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The city's official Christmas tree will be lighted Thursday, just before the annual Christmas parade through Great Bridge.
The ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. in front of the City Hall building at 306 Cedar Road.
Mayor William E. Ward will offer the city's official holiday message, and he and members of Chesapeake City Council will be on hand to help light the tree in one of the city's few non-partisan ceremonies.
After the tree is lighted, 100 students from Great Bridge Middle School North will serenade the crowd with a program of holiday songs.
Kids will be entertained before the parade reaches City Hall by the Spectrum Puppets, presented by the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department.
The Emmy Award-winning puppet troupe will perform ``Santa's Magic Toyshop.'' The production will feature an array of unique marionettes in an upbeat musical featuring holiday tunes, toy soldiers, figure skaters, a magical music box, dancing mice and a little girl and her baby brother. In addition, the production features bear cubs on unicycles; flamingos hatching their young; Davy, a 4-foot-tall dolphin; and a life-sized American eagle.
The puppet production will also include a walking stage with trick puppets along with Olivia, the baby orangutan, and Millie, the cocker spaniel, who will walk around the audience to offer that personal touch.
A food vendor will sell hot dogs, cold drinks and hot apple cider. Restrooms at the nearby Great Bridge Community Center and Chesapeake Central Library will be open.
The city's official Christmas tree will be lighted Thursday, just before the annual Christmas parade through Great Bridge.
The ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. in front of the City Hall building at 306 Cedar Road.
Mayor William E. Ward will offer the city's official holiday message, and he and members of Chesapeake City Council will be on hand to help light the tree in one of the city's few non-partisan ceremonies.
After the tree is lighted, 100 students from Great Bridge Middle School North will serenade the crowd with holiday songs.
Kids will be entertained before the parade reaches City Hall by the Spectrum Puppets, presented by the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department.
The Emmy Award-winning puppet troupe will perform ``Santa's Magic Toyshop.'' The production will feature an array of unique marionettes in an upbeat musical featuring holiday tunes, toy soldiers, figure skaters, a magical music box, dancing mice and a little girl and her baby brother. In addition, the production features bear cubs on unicycles; flamingos hatching their young; Davy, a 4-foot-tall dolphin; and a life-sized American eagle.
The puppet production will also include a walking stage with trick puppets along with Olivia, the baby orangutan, and Millie, the cocker spaniel, who will walk around the audience to offer that personal touch.
A food vendor will sell hot dogs, cold drinks and hot apple cider. Restrooms at the nearby Great Bridge Community Center and Chesapeake Central Library will be open. by CNB