City of Gaffney Public Works Department employees spent part of their shift Monday erecting and decorating the city Christmas tree outside City Hall. CHRISTMAS ON LIMESTONE

Where: North Limestone Street When: Friday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

LIMESTONE COLLEGE CHRISTMAS

ON CAMPUS AND

LIGHTING OF THE LUMINARIES

Where: College Drive, Rutledge Avenue, portions of South Petty, South Johnson, Limestone and Montgomery Streets

When: Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON CONCERT

Where: Fullerton Auditorium

When: Saturday, Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

The ceremonial lighting of the Limestone College Christmas tree will occur Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7:45 p.m. Santa will make an appearance at the festivities at 7:55 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Mike Teague is getting quite adept not only at judging evergreens but getting people to donate them.

The fruits of his labor can now be seen outside Gaffney City Hall, where Public Works Department employees earlier this week erected a perfectly-shaped evergreen to serve as this year’s city Christmas tree, just in time for this weekend’s Christmastime activities in Downtown Gaffney.

“I just happened to be riding by and saw it,” said Teague, the city’s director of public works. “When we see one and think it looks good, we find out who owns the property.”

This year’s City of Gaffney tree was spotted on a parcel on Huntington Drive and Teague was able to determine the property was owned by the Cherokee County Disability and Special Needs Board. A few phone calls later and the tree was donated to the city to help spread some holiday cheer among the entire community.

Estimated at about 22 feet tall, Public Works employees set it into place Monday morning outside Gaffney City Hall and used 12-foot step ladders and a bucket truck to place the decorations.

So perfectly grown by nature into the iconic Christmas tree shape, work crews didn’t have to do any trimming at all.

While passers-by could have gotten a sneak peek at the finished product while work crews were testing the lights on Monday, everyone else will get a chance to see the tree in its full Christmas glory this evening, when area children will be selected to help Mayor Henry Jolly light it at the start of the Christmas on Limestone downtown event.

Christmas on Limestone starts at 5 p.m. today and lasts until 9 p.m.

And for folks who want to see even more Christmas trees, the Festival of Trees is being displayed inside City Hall. Decorated by local nonprofit organizations, there are 21 trees on display on the first and second floors of the building.

While it costs absolutely nothing to stop by and look, well-wishers who want to financially support the nonprofit organizations can “buy” votes for their favorite trees. The votes are being sold for $1 each.

The Festival of Trees will be on display throughout the month.

The annual Christmas on Limestone community event, now in its ninth year, is a partnership between downtown businesses and the city. This year’s event will feature candlelight tours of the Michael Gaffney log home, caroling, sidewalk art, youth and adult choirs, and food vendors.

Most downtown businesses will be open and decorated for Christmas as well.

Matthew McDonald, owner of Bookshelf Florist & Gifts on East Frederick Street, arranged for two different choirs to perform on the street. Gaffney High School Choir will be performing from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., while the Restoration Church Choir will perform from about 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Shuford Hatcher Funeral Home donated the use of chairs so there will be seating available during the outdoor performances.