The city of Columbus has collected almost 100 trees for its Christmas tree bonfire planned for Thursday evening, Mayor Robert Smith said on Tuesday.
Citizens began Monday taking their old trees to one of the city’s two drop-off points — the City Garage at the intersection of Martin Luther King and Bell Avenue or the Hitching Lot along Second Avenue North. The mayor said both the city’s public works department and Golden Triangle Waste Management have collected some trees left at residential curbsides. Residents can still drop off trees for the bonfire until 3:30 p.m. today and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Smith hopes to add 50 to 75 more for the bonfire by the drop-off deadline.
“Even if we have to add some oak limbs or something, we want to have a nice pile so we can have a really big bonfire,” he said.
The Columbus Fire Department will light the pile at 6 p.m. Thursday at a portion of land the city owns on The Island on the edge of the Tombigbee River. Participants can begin gathering either at the Riverwalk Amphitheater or on the Old 82 pedestrian bridge at about 5 p.m., said Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Nancy Carpenter.
Councilman Bill Gavin will provide background music, beginning shortly after 5 p.m., and spectators can enjoy the sight of Chinese lanterns launched from the bridge at about 5:30 p.m.
Carpenter said the CVB would provide enough free hot chocolate for at least 300 spectators, as well as distribute handwarmers to at least the first 100 to arrive for the event.
“It’s supposed to be the coldest night of the year, and we’re trying to be ready for everything,” Carpenter said. “This will be such a festive event, one that’s family-friendly and family-oriented. We expect it to be a good turnout and we’re excited.”
Smith said the city organized the event in little more than a week, and it’s already shown enough promise that he wants to make it an annual affair. Next year he wants to start planning and advertising earlier in the year, and he wants to more highly incorporate curbside pickup.
“This is a way to bring citizens together, whether they live in the city or (out) in the county,” Smith said. “And it shows goodwill for the city of Columbus. It also goes to show you, with people working together, what can be done in a short period of time. That’s the way it should be.”
Eat With Us Group and Wesley Platt with Financial Works are sponsoring the event, and members of the Mayor’s Youth Council will volunteer on site. Columbus police officers will also be on hand.
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Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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