The holidays are here! Hanover's Christmas tree arrives downtown

If you drove through downtown Hanover's Center Square Wednesday morning, you might have been in for an unusual sight: a 35-foot tree hovering in the air.

That large tree, donated by Charles Peyton Sr., of Shaffer Circle in West Manheim Township, is this year's Hanover Christmas tree.

The tree was placed Wednesday morning by crews using a large crane to hoist it into its planter in the southeast quadrant of the square.

Peyton, who just turned 83, donated the tree in honor of his many grandkids and great grandkids.

"I grew it since it was about two feet tall," said Peyton, who planted the tree when he first moved into his home.

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"It makes me feel great because my great grandkids want to be there to plug it in," said Peyton, "that's something to remember."

The donation of a local Hanover tree has become another of Hanover's many holiday traditions, fueled by the involvement of community members who have reached out to the Christmas committee on their own to offer up their trees.

"We've been very fortunate for the last five or six years that all of our trees that have been on the square have come out of someone's yard," said Christmas in Hanover committee member Christopher Arter, a Christmas superfan who also runs Christopher Cringle's at the Hanover market.

"It all goes back to what we've been trying to accomplish here, which is making sure the community can celebrate all together for the holidays," said Christmas in Hanover committee member Justine Trucksess about the community donating the trees.

With the tree donations, the annual Christmas tree has come at no cost to the committee, Arter said. Along with the donated tree, local businesses and organizations have helped the committee to spread holiday cheer at no cost.

Hanover Concrete donates a crane and a crane operator for the day to help remove and place the tree, Finches Rentals donates a scissor lift to decorate the tree, and Hanover Borough Public Works employees cut, place, and stabilize the tree.

Arter gives major credit to the public works employees for their enthusiasm in helping with the borough's festivities.

"They genuinely care and take a personal interest in the Christmas decorations," Arter said.

The tree will be lit on Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. in the square downtown during a ceremony hosted by Dave Russell from Warm 103.3. The ceremony will feature live music, performances, and even hot chocolate.

Before the lighting, volunteers will be decorating the tree with donated ornaments, garlands, and lights, Arter said.

A key decoration for this year is the tree's pretzel tree topper, which alternates out with a more traditional star topper every other year, Arter said. The pretzel is emblematic of Hanover's title as the snack-food capital of the USA.

Harrison Jones is the Hanover reporter for The Evening Sun. Contact him at hjones@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Hanover Evening Sun: Hanover Borough's Christmas tree arrives in downtown square