While there are just about 166 days until Christmas, city volunteers and leaders are getting ready to kick off the season and give the community the gift of new Christmas tree decorations.

The City of Newberry is working to improve its Christmas tree and make it a big kick off to the season.

Newberry Mayor Foster Senn has formed a committee to look at sprucing up the town’s Christmas.

The committee, led by Joyce Vigus, is planning on new lights and decorations for the 25-foot tree that will be located in front of Community Hall in downtown Newberry.

“Mayor Senn has given us a great vision for an exciting Christmas in Newberry,” said Vigus, “We have a great group of volunteers who are working on decorating ideas and raising funds to pay for the new look.”

“I am so appreciative of these citizens who are giving of their time to make the Community Christmas Tree 2012 really special,” said Senn. “This is another way that Newberry will reflect the Christmas spirit.”

Newberry Assistant Manager Matt DeWitt explains that the city’s tree decorations are getting dated and some years old.

But the hope is to get new lights and a new topper for the tree that stands on the square.

The committee is currently seeking donations from businesses and citizens to fund new lights, a new star and other decorations, say Vigus.

“We want the tree to be something that the people of our community can look forward to seeing each year,” said Vigus. “Newberry has a great community spirit and by working together our Christmas tree will be another reflection of what a wonderful place it is and the people that make Newberry great.”

Joe Trainor, owner of Stokes-Trainor Chevrolet, who is supporting the event, said, “The community Christmas tree will draw people to downtown and foster continued improvement in our community. I want to support this financially and in other ways because it will make a positive difference in Newberry.”

“Donations of all sizes are welcome,” said Vigus. “We want this to be a project in which everyone can participate.”

The lighting of the Christmas tree will be held Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. in Memorial Park.

During the event call Main Street Lights local choirs and others will perform and the city lights will be turned on for the Christmas season.

In addition to the tree’s lights being turned on, the other holiday lights will also be turned on to run through the Christmas season.

There will also be open houses and other events in conjunction with the Main Street Lights.

Checks should be made payable to “Newberry Special Events” and sent to Joyce Vigus at 2115 Cherry Laurel Drive, Newberry, SC 29108.