"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in the lane, snow is glistening ..."

Orangeburg will have its own beautiful sight for many a night as the city is transformed into its own "Winter Wonderland" through its annual Christmas Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 23.

The lighting of Children's Garden Christmas and Kids' Walk at Edisto Memorial Gardens follows on Monday.

The Sunday celebration will begin with Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association's traditional Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. at Stevenson Auditorium, followed by the lighting of Memorial Plaza, where the Orangeburg Department of Parks and Recreation will provide hot chocolate.

This year will mark the city's 16th annual program.

"As we approach the Advent season and as we prepare for Thanksgiving, it has been the custom for the city of Orangeburg to turn on the Christmas lights on the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving," Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller said. "We are particularly glad to be able to make these beautiful lights available during this season for many visitors who will ride through our Gardens free of charge to enjoy the many beautiful displays.

"We trust that this will allow each and every one of you to begin to get into the spirit of the season, and I, as mayor, wish each of you a very joyous holiday and a prosperous New Year," Miller said.

"Sights and Sounds of Christmas," DORA's holiday program, will be held 6:30 p.m. in Stevenson Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

The program, directed by DORA members Edna Fischer, Randy Etters and Michael Bedenbaugh, will feature traditional and contemporary Christmas music and will be followed by the lighting of Memorial Plaza at 7:45 p.m.

This year's wife and husband team, Nancy and Bob Ayers, will light the plaza. Nancy Ayers was the 2007 Orangeburg Citizen of the Year.

On Monday at 6 p.m., Dr. Ben Pendarvis and wife, Faye, will light the Kids' Walk while S.C. State Bulldog football coach Oliver Buddy Pough and wife, Josie, will light Childrens' Garden Christmas, both in Edisto Memorial Gardens.

The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center will once again present its annual Christmas program and "Festival of Mayors' Wreaths and Trees."

The South Carolina State University Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Richard Beckford will add to the Christmas spirit through the playing of Christmas music.

The "Festival of Mayors' Wreaths and Trees" will be on display until around 8 p.m.

Hot chocolate will be served in the Terrace Garden from 6 to 8 p.m. The "Festival of Mayors' Wreaths and Trees" will be on display through Dec. 4.

Riverside Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. It will reopen to one-way traffic at 8 p.m. following the event.

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