The City of West Columbia is hosting the 13th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. It’s at the West Columbia Municipal Complex on the corner of North 12th Street and Jarvis Klapman Boulevard.

At the event, West Columbia area elementary schools will hold a “What Christmas Means To Me” contest. The winners from each school are honored at the tree lighting. and the students read their winning essays or poems. In addition to the writing contest, there is a student artwork contest. The winning artwork entry will be featured on the cover of the event program and the top three entries will be displayed on the Art on State wall, in the parking lot behind State and Meeting Streets, for the entire holiday season.

The program will include Christmas carols, greetings, and the lighting of the West Columbia Christmas Tree. Students from Saluda River Academy of the Arts Chorus, Northside Middle School Chorus and Orchestra, and East Point Academy Dance Group will perform holiday classics. Radio and television personality Joe Pinner will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Brad Bessent, of First Baptist Church West Columbia, will deliver the Christmas Message, and Pastor Bill Egerdahl, of Grace Baptist Church, will deliver the Christmas Prayer.

At the conclusion of the program, a reception will be held in the New Brookland Room of the West Columbia City Hall. Refreshments are being provided by local West Columbia restaurants, organizations, and businesses.