DeKalb celebrates 11th annual tree lighting

DeKalb County’s Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is all decked out with beautifully decorated Christmas trees. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson presented the 11th Annual Tree Lighting celebration on Nov. 27. The event included free food provided by Bojangles restaurant, a visit from Santa, and vignettes from the musical stage production, Stepp Stewart’s “A Soulful Christmas” for the community to enjoy.   

Johnson also is celebrating his “Tree of Love” event at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall. This year will mark the 20th anniversary that Johnson reaches out to the community to help “adopt” needy children for Christmas by having the public select names from the Christmas tree at the mall and present toys and other presents to the kids during a closing ceremony on Dec. 15, noon to 3 p.m., at the mall, 3801 Candler Road, Decatur.