Rehoboth Beach lights Christmas tree

The Rehoboth Beach Christmas tree is now shining brightly by the Bandstand after the annual lighting ceremony Nov. 24.

Hundreds of people gathered on a beautiful evening at the end of Rehoboth Avenue for the annual event.

The Cape Henlopen High School Brass Ensemble kicked things off with a performance of holiday favorites. That was followed by a troupe from Clear Space Theatre Company leading the crowd in a hometown Christmas carol sing-along.

Then at 7 p.m., the countdown began and the city flipped the switch, lighting the tree and launching the Christmas season in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

Nobody there for the celebration seemed to mind that the tree was a little shorter than in past years. It topped out at about 25 feet, even though it was supposed to be about 15 feet taller. The trunk snapped in half when the crew was lifting it off a trailer Nov. 15.

Harry Caswell and Delmarva Power decided they could salvage the top part.

Once the tree was decorated and lit up with the star on top, it was hard to notice the height difference.

This year’s tree was donated by Dean and Debbie Smith, who live outside Rehoboth Beach. It is the second year in a row they have donated the city’s Christmas tree. It’s the first time the same family has donated a tree in consecutive years.

Harry Caswell, George W. Plummer & Son and Delmarva Power helped the city remove, transport and install the tree this year.