It's time to light the tree!

Saturday will mark the seventh year in which Columbia County has lit its official Christmas tree.

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That's almost as surprising as noting that until a group of volunteers used donated funds to stage a small ceremony at the government complex in 2001 the county didn't even have a Christmas display.

That's all changed, and Saturday's Christmas in America has become the signature event switching on the holiday season. It comes the same weekend that Grovetown turns on its biggest-in-the-area light display and holds its Christmas parade. It's also the day before the Columbia County Merchants Association's Martinez-Evans Christmas Parade.

The following week, Harlem will get in the spirit with its Christmas in the Heart of Downtown Harlem festival, featuring everything from a breakfast with Santa to a parade through the middle of town.

Saturday is the county's main event, with holiday vendors setting up in the Memorial Gardens behind the library in Evans at 4 p.m., followed by musical performances leading up to the tree-lighting at 6:30 p.m.

From both a spiritual and festive standpoint, that's what Christmas is all about: music and light. We hope you'll join us for plenty of both on Saturday.