Haylee Smith grew up watching other kids get the opportunity to flip the switch to light up the community Christmas tree.

The 11-year-old Lincoln Elementary School student would always make trips down to City Hall with her family to participate in a community tradition – first watching the tree light up and then heading over to the senior center to hear Jack Snyder read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

But all of that changed on Thursday night.

After Mayor Willie Weatherford called all of the young kids in to form the annual circle around him – leading all of them on a Christmas Carol – he brought Councilman Steve DeBrum in to help him search for who would have the honor this year.

Using the “pick a number” system, DeBrum finally singled out Smith, who beamed ear-to-ear as the group that had gathered near the tree counted down.

“It’s cool to get the chance to do that,” said the shy Smith – who added that she loves getting presents during Christmastime and spending time with her family.

Getting the chance to see her daughter take center stage in something that their family has been coming to every year was something that Nancy Bertram was more than thrilled about.

It’s that sense of community, she said, that helps make events like the one on Thursday night special.

“It’s great because it’s a chance for the family together and you get a chance to come out here and meet new people,” Bertram said. “My daughter got the chance to meet the mayor tonight, and that’s something that she’s never done before.

“The kids really like putting ornaments on the tree too. We were going to try to make our own this year, but we ended up just buying some from the store.”

Hector Talamantes took a completely different route when it came to hanging ornaments on the community tree.

Rather than going the store-bought route, Talamantes spent a portion of his Thursday night searching for the perfect branch to hang the handmade ornament of little Nevaeh Fletcher – the daughter of his girlfriend who learned of the event and decided to bring the family out.

Watching the kids respond to the tree and seeing their anticipation as Christmas gets closer, Talamantes says, is what makes the season special for him.

“This is our first time out here and it’s nice. I can see us coming back out here next year and doing the same thing – the kids really like it,” Talamantes said. “And for me, it’s all about the kids. I love seeing their faces on Christmas morning. I don’t care if I get anything as long as they’re happy.

“It’s a season for giving, and that’s my favorite part of it.”