By Susie Scott
mail@floridanewsline.com
The Mandarin Community Club has announced that Mayor Donna Deegan will light the huge live Christmas tree at the annual Community Tree Lighting event on the grounds of the historic Mandarin Community Club on Friday, Dec. 1.
The Tree Lighting event was initiated in 2020 during the pandemic to bring the residents of Mandarin together outdoors for a safe and heartwarming kickoff to the holiday season in a difficult time. It has grown over the years since to include food, live music, and a visit with Santa in the historic club building. It’s the kickoff to the holidays in Mandarin and is followed by the Winter Celebration at the Walter Jones Park and the annual Boat Parade on Julington Creek.
The inaugural lighting in 2020 was billed as a “Bring on the Night, Bring on the Light” and is now an annual tradition for Mandarin which encourages luminaria throughout the neighborhoods.
The Mandarin Community Club is the oldest civic organization in Mandarin and one of the oldest in all of Jacksonville. First formed as the Liberty League in 1923, the club recently celebrated 100 years of service to Mandarin. The Mandarin Community Club is located on historic Mandarin Road in the 1872 Mandarin School building founded originally by Harriett Beecher Stowe.
Photo courtesy Mandarin Community Club
This year’s annual Community Tree Lighting event on the grounds of the historic Mandarin Community Club will be held on Friday, Dec. 1.
