Christmas Market, Tree Lighting a Pendleton Community Celebration
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Pendleton’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Christkindlmarkt unfolded this weekend with the glow of tradition and small-town camaraderie, transforming the village green into a festive centerpiece as twilight settled in. It marks the first year under the care of Pendleton’s own community leadership, building on the legacy of local organizers and welcoming the season with the gentlest echo of holiday music and laughter that carries across downtown.
After a year of hosting events that attract visitors for states up and down the East Coast, the Christmas events are a holiday gift to the community, a time to enjoy the season with friends and neighbors. Unlike the larger regional festivals, Pendleton’s celebration keeps roads open and gatherings intimate, inviting families to stroll from their homes or nearby shops and linger together beneath the Christmas lights.
Residents bundled against the evening chill, exchanging greetings and memories as anticipation built for the tree-lighting ceremony. With the illuminated spruce serving as a silent witness, Mayor Frank Crenshaw and council members joined the crowd, marking the official start of the holiday season with warm words and the sparkle of string lights. Festivities continue over successive weekends and promise the annual parade—another gentle staple bringing together this tight-knit community.
Pendleton’s Christmas tradition thrives on the familiar: no grand road closures, no city noise, only the soft murmur of neighbors sharing in a moment of seasonal unity. For many, this event captures the essential spirit of small-town life—a space for nostalgia, togetherness, and the simple joy of watching lights brighten a darkening winter’s night.
