Santa, shopping will brighten up SoMa

Music, food, hot drinks, twinkling lights, a man in red and shopping. Lots of shopping. They're the key components of the traditional holiday season, and all can be found in one place today, as the South Main Street district's Bernice Garden hosts its official tree lighting celebration.

It's been an annual event since 2007 and it's a full community party -- a way to connect with neighbors and share some Christmas cheer.

"It's generally the same as in years past," says organizer Devin Hancock. "It's just good, clean family fun around the holidays."

The party starts with groups from Booker T. Washington Elementary School and Dunbar Magnet Middle School singing Christmas carols.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be special guests, there for photo ops and visits with children and families. Meanwhile, Loblolly Creamery will sell hot chocolate and Stone's Throw Brewery will sell beer.

Tonight, the shops along South Main will stay open a little later than normal for the SoMa Holiday Open House. Attendees are encouraged to do a little local shopping while they're in the area.

The most exciting part, though, may be the tree lighting.

"I know last year, the kids who were singing, they helped us count down," Hancock says. "That's always really funny because some will scream louder than the others. It kind of gets like a competition to see who can count down the loudest."

This is Hancock's first year to organize the event, though she has attended them.

"I live in the neighborhood as well so I appreciate it not just from an organizing standpoint," she says. "It's a nice thing to have in our neighborhood, to come out on an evening and fellowship with your neighbors and co-workers and people you see everyday."

She says whether or not people live in the neighborhood, everyone is welcome to come out and spend time having a bit of community holiday fun. "It's a way to get out of the house and start enjoying the holiday season as a family."

Weekend on 12/01/2016