Since the usual holiday decorations could not be placed in their usual spot in front of Government Center, Mayor William Whitty organized a "Festival of Lights" holiday celebration in the lower portion of Kennedy Park in the City's South End on December 8, 2007. The event included caroling led by the B.M.C. Durfee High School Mixed Chorus and a warm tent full of activities, including cookie and wreath decorating, and food provided by the Friends of Heritage State Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus, played by Lenny Kaplan and Janet Lebel, were on hand to talk to children, and Polaroid instant photos were taken. In addition to the High School Chorus, the school's brass ensemble played along with the teen band "The Buggies." The highlight of the event was the lighting of the trees around the Sergeant Foley Fountain and wading pool. This year, the switch was thrown by Zareea and Semaj King, two children who were hit by a car in October as they waited at a school bus stop. Click here to read the Herald News article about the Festival. For more information about the event, contact the Mayor's Office at 508-324-2600.

(Top row, left) Children play among the lighted displays in lower Kennedy Park where choirs performed and winter crafts and a visit with Santa were set up under a heated tent. (Top row, center) B.M.C. Durfee High School Chorus members Ashley Medeiros, Dafne Escalante, Ryan Davoll and Sylvia Conceicao pose in front of the stage where the group performed. (Top row, right) Eight-year-old David Lafleur holds up a pine bough hanging he made with the help of Mathew Pimental who serves as a  Bioresere Youth Corps intern for the Trustees of Reservations. (Middle row, left and right) Cassandra Lowney and Mariah Monteiro sing Christmas carols with the Durfee High School Chorus as audience members Alissa Gagne and Kimberly Leverge join in. (Bottom row, left) Mayor William Whitty introduces School Committee Member Kevin Aguiar and City Councilor Ray Hague along with recent accident survivors Zareeaa and Semaj King, and the Mayor's nine-year-old grandson Carter Whitty before the children flipped the switch to turn on the holiday tree lights. (Bottom row, center) Draft horse "Chief" pulls a hay wagon loaded with passengers around the Sergeant Foley Fountain as Jodie Rebello of Rebello Farms in Rehoboth drives. (Bottom row, right) Ciera Toste and Alecia Guimette enjoy singing another carol.