The treestand at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand has been fixed.
The stand and the surrounding support structure were damaged in late November when a storm blew through and knocked over the 30-foot-tall, 5,000-pound Christmas tree the day after it was installed. Fortunately, the tree was not damaged, but the concrete and pavers around the treestand were, as the base of the tree’s trunk popped out of place.
Public Works Director Henry Matlosz said the repair cost $4,500. There weren’t any changes made to the structure, but immediately after the tree fell, the anchor that failed was removed, and a thicker, higher-grade chain was purchased and installed, he said.
“We’ll use that higher-grade chain moving forward,” said Matlosz.
Last year’s accident was the second year in a row the city has had an issue with the installation of the tree. In 2023, the tree snapped in half while being unloaded from the flatbed.
The city’s sing-along event takes place annually the Friday after Thanksgiving, which this year is Friday, Nov. 28.