FORT RILEY, Kan. – The annual Holiday Tree-Lighting ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 outside of Garrison Headquarters, Building 500, located off of Huebner Road on Main Post.
The lighting of the community holiday tree kicks off the holiday season every year at Fort Riley.
The ceremony is open to the public. In addition to the lighting of the tree, the event will feature singing, remarks, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus.
“My favorite part is the arrival of Santa. The kids love him, and he likes to work the crowd,” said Steven Balderrama, operations specialist, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
The event is fun and family friendly, he said, with blankets and hot chocolate available, free of charge, while supplies last. A warming tent also is available for attendees.
A section of Huebner Road, located in front of Garrison headquarters, will be closed during the ceremony, from about 5 to 6 p.m.
Parking will be available behind the building, which can be accessed via Carpenter Avenue.
A children’s group will sing Christmas carols, and the 1st Infantry Division Band and Fort Riley Army Spouses Choir also will perform.
“It’s exciting to have the spouse’s choir performing for the first time this year,” Balderrama said.
Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, commanding general, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, will be the guest speaker for the event.
The 1st Infantry Division Family of the Year is the Tubbs family, which includes Sgt. Dean A. Tubbs, 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, his wife, Kelli, and three children, Cody, 22, Kelsie, 21, and McKenzie, 13.
The family will assist Funk with lighting the community holiday tree.
After the tree is lit and the ceremony is complete, Santa will move into the foyer of the Garrison headquarters building for pictures with children.
All children who wait in line for Santa will have the opportunity to get a picture with him.
An Operation Santa Claus gift donation box will be at the tree-lighting ceremony inside Garrison Headquarters. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations for Operation Santa – new unwrapped toys in $15- to $25-price range for children, ages infant to 18 years. Op Santa works in conjunction with the Association of the United States Army to assist Families with financial difficulties during the holidays.
“This event is a good opportunity to come out together, see Santa, see the lights and be a part of the community, especially for those families with a deployed Soldier,” Balderrama said.