Dozens of families flocked to Edisto Memorial Gardens on Monday to witness the annual lighting of the Children’s Garden Christmas and Kids’ Walk.

Edisto Elementary student Chris Porter was running around, barely able to contain his excitement. He was not alone.

Nikki Hughes of Orangeburg was among the crowd ready to stroll through an illuminated sea of all things Christmas with her young toddler.

“We are excited to see the lights,” Hughes said.

When Dr. Ben Pendarvis and South Carolina State University head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough flipped the light switches, a dark, cold Monday night suddenly became bright. The lights came on and the crowd let out their collective “ohhs” and “ahhs.”

As the crowd walked up the hill to Centennial Park, they came upon visual delights such as a Nativity scene and Santa Claus. Christmas songs like “Let it Snow” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” filled the air.

David and Charlene Fry took in the sights with their son Hassan in hand. Charlene said she now knows the holiday season has finally arrived.

“It starts our Christmas season off. It gets us in the spirit of the Christmas and holiday seasons,” she said of the lighting ceremony.

Like every kid this time of year, Hassan is mulling over his wish list. This year, he has no doubt about what he wants for Christmas. He wants a basketball goal to begin his journey toward becoming the next Kobe Bryant.

A few hundred feet away, Guy Watkins Best Jr. pretended to be a snowman while his parents snapped photos to capture the moment.

“Just to hide behind the snowman and see Santa, it’s so much fun,” he said.

His mother, Jan, said it’s an annual event for her family to see the lighting. They’ll visit several more times this holiday season.

“I usually like to ride through the gardens every night,” she said.

She won’t be the only one. Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller estimates at least 350,000 people will view the display this holiday season.

Kasey Byrd said she and her son Wyatt will remember their first trip to the Edisto Gardens during Christmastime.

“I like it. It’s very neat,” said Byrd.

n T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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