An icy north wind couldn't keep a large crowd from gathering Monday night for the First Presbyterian Church's 25th annual Singing Christmas Tree.
Young and old hunched together on bleachers in the church's parking lot, sipped hot chocolate and waited for the performance to begin.
With a fanfare of trumpets, singers loaded on to the tall scaffolding shaped like a tree.
Elizabeth Pillow, 19, was perched at the highest point in the tree. For the past 15 or 16 years, she has performed in the tree. "Singing in the tree really puts you in the Christmas spirit."
Her favorite part is listening to Connie Black, who shares a spot next to her, sing "O Holy Night."
Black's solo and other popular Christmas songs kept the bundled audience enthralled.
A narrator told the Christmas story between carols.
Alan Carter chatted with fellow shepherd and City Councilman John Lee before he joined the live nativity.
Carter wore four layers beneath his shepherd's outfit to combat the cold. "I had to bring out the ski clothes," he explained.
Carter has been a part of the nativity scene since its inception. The only role he hasn't played is Joseph.
Performing in the annual production brings in the Christmas season, he said. "This is the heart of Advent."
A live nativity scene is a part of First Presbyterian's heritage, even before the singing Christmas tree.
Marian Boswell fondly remembers standing in the nativity. The men always tried to make the others laugh, she said.
Boswell was the narrator last year, and in many previous performances. The singing Christmas tree has been a long-standing tradition for her family.
This year, she brought one of her 16 grandchildren. "It brings the young and old together," Boswell said.
Little Millie Clark, 2, was in awe of the lights, which flashed green, blue, red and white. She snuggled close to her father, Brad Clark, during the performance.
Clark grew up singing in the Christmas tree. Sharing it with wife, Colleen, and with his daughter for the first time was well worth the hour drive from Batesville, he said. "This will be our family tradition."
A second performance will be given at 7 p.m. today.
