SULLIVAN, IL (WAND) - People in Sullivan celebrated its first tree lighting ceremony. It all spurred by the idea of a teenager. A tree lighting ceremony is viewed as a way to kick off the Christmas vibes in the community. Something 17-year-old Brianna Barrix wanted for Sullivan. She said the idea was inspired from watching Hallmark movies.
"[The movies] They were all centered around the tree lighting," Barrix said. "We don't have one in Sullivan."
Barrix contacted her cousin, Rob Young, to see if it's possible to make into a reality. Young expressed how impressed he was with the idea and how it put a smile on his face. Barrix said he had the event set up in four hours.
"I thought it would be nice for the whole community to come out," Young said.
Young reached out to his connections and had a 34 foot tall Christmas tree donated. Young said more than 2,000 lights were wrapped around it. The event took place at the courthouse in Sullivan. There was Christmas music, a reindeer for the kids and visit from Santa. To Barrix, this moment is something she'd hope to make into a Sullivan tradition.
"I want them all to be in Christmas spirit and I want them all to smile," Barrix said,
