Six-year-old Jay "Jace" Hiers arrived early Monday night wearing a red, battery-powered antler headpiece to help Santa find his way through the drizzly, foggy Orangeburg night.

Hiers says he is a veteran reindeer at Orangeburg's lighting ceremony for the Children's Garden Christmas and Kids' Walk.

With antlers and face all aglow, Hiers said he wants to tell Santa something: "Three LEGOs: a helicopter transporter, a police truck and a police station. All three of them are LEGO City."

Seven-year-old Brianna Brown says a karaoke machine is what she wants for Christmas. Taylor Swift is her favorite.

"Santa Claus is giving us presents," Brown said.

Thomas Ott said he wants a set of drums, a laptop and a play gun.

But the 7-year-old's mother, Kathy Ott, said with the economy down, Santa can not afford drums ... plus Santa is concerned about mom's ears.

"I will need ear plugs," Kathy said. "The economy is down and Santa had to let some of his elves go!"

With a flip of the switch, Edisto Memorial Gardens was transformed from a dreary, damp landscape into a winter wonderland as thousands of lights brightened trees, as well as faces and hearts.

The squeals of excitement from pint-sized frames and "ooohs and aahhs" were the norm as eyes twinkled and glittered with red, blue and green lights.

"Oooh, there is a candy cane!"

"I see Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer!"

"There is a choo-choo train!"

Deloris and Melvin Smoak had the honor of lighting the Children's Garden Christmas, with Dr. Gene Atkinson and his wife, Colleen Atkinson, lighting the Kids' Walk.

"It is a great honor after working with students for so many years," said Melvin Smoak, the retiring Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 Superintendent. "Both of us have spent our lives with kids. Kids are the centerpiece of it (Christmas) when it comes to making sure they are happy."

The Rev. Kristen Richardson-Frick, pastor of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, offered a Christmas story about a little candle who traveled as part of the supplies Mary and Joseph carried as they made the trip to Bethlehem.

Richardson-Frick related how the candle was fearful since it was a tiny little candle and was not sure it would have enough light when it got dark.

"He lit up and to his surprise and joy, he had the light and the baby was born by his light," Richardson-Frick said. "After that baby was born, more people came with more candles and his little bit of light was multiplied by all the other lights."

Richardson-Frick said the candle has something to tell each and every one.

"That little candle says you have a light that matters and you need to shine," she said.

Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller said the season is about children and helping those who do without.

"To me it (Christmas) is about giving, not necessarily gifts, but giving to people who are less fortunate," Miller said.

Following the lighting of the gardens, attendees had an opportunity to view the Mayors' Festival of Wreaths, which will be on display through Dec. 7 at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center. Bids will be accepted on the wreaths until 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at the center.

The Christmas ambiance was topped off with hot chocolate and cookies at the Fine Arts Center. The St. George Baptist Church and the New Hope Baptist Church choirs performed traditional Christmas songs and cantata selections.

There will be one-way traffic from Russell Street through Riverside Drive and Waring Street from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. through Jan. 1.

The annual Christmas parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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