The first weekend of December is a special one in Nauvoo. It’s the annual Christmas in Old Nauvoo, sometimes affectionately called the “Christmas Walk” that officially opens the season here.

There is music by the local high school band and chorus, special numbers by the missionaries, and a few songs for the entire crowd to sing along….but the main event is the lighting of the giant tree inside the Historic Nauvoo Visitor’s Center.

Lights are dimmed as the missionaries sing “Light Up the Tree” while using cellophane covered flashlights to send dancing light around the room. Then the Mayor, John McCarty, does the honors of flipping the switch, triggering “oohs and ahhs” as the tree fills the room with sparkling light.

Here are a few of the photos Tom took from the balcony.

This is what the tree has looked like for the last week or so. It is laden with pioneer theme kids’ ornaments and surrounded by toys at the base. Such a fabulous tree!

The Jazz Band from Warsaw High School kept the crowd tapping their toes with beautiful Christmas tunes. The provided prelude music as attendees arrived, special numbers during the program, and more music afterward as guests waited for their wagon ride to the sites for storytelling.

Warsaw High School Chorus delighted the crowd with a medley of Christmas favorites.

Singing “Silent Night” at the close of the tree lighting ceremony

The tree lighting ceremony is just the beginning of Christmas in Nauvoo. Horse drawn wagons (and yes, the horses are wearing jingle bells!) take you from the Visitor’s Center down Main Street to the historic sites. First stop? The Family Living Center for refreshments and more live music!

After filling up with treats, you can stop by the Cultural Hall to see a live nativity (presented every half hour) then stroll down the luminaria lighted sidewalk or catch a wagon down to the Tin Shop, Print Shop, Post Office, and Browning’s Gun Shop to hear Christmas stories. Carolers gather around lighted fires outside the shops, entertaining passersby with music.

Bundling up with blankets on the wagon and heading back to the Visitor’s Center completes the night, but before heading home, stopping by the nativity scene is a sweet reminder of the central and most important reason for all the celebration…..the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the gift—and the best gift of all.

What a wonderful start to the Christmas season…….