The holiday spirit is vibrant in the city of Lakewood. For years, members of our community have made the Christmas season truly special with festive street lights, a Christmas tree in the plaza on Detroit Avenue, fireworks, impressively decorated houses, and more! Lakewood residents are dedicated to embracing the holiday magic and cheer, whether through charitable acts, supporting local businesses, or hosting seasonal community gatherings. In Lakewood, it’s the people who make the holidays unforgettable.
Lakewood’s choir program is also having a fantastic year. Tyler Kinder, an eighth grader at Harding Middle School, shared that the choir students have been diligently practicing their seasonal songs since the beginning of the school year. This winter, they joined forces with the choirs from Garfield Middle School and Lakewood High School to perform on Dec. 12 in the LHS Civic Auditorium.
The performance featured traditional songs such as Alma Mater, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and May the Lord Bless You and Keep You. In addition to these classics, the choir performed Carol of the Bells and sang Adrastra in a different language.
Kinder also revealed that he is part of a second choir group, The Harding Singers. He mentioned they recently performed the humorous song Twelve Days After Christmas at Lakewood High School. A lot of time and dedication goes into memorizing these songs, and the results are remarkable every time.
“When it’s all said and done, we put together an impressive concert, if you ask me,” Kinder said.
Sophia Ward, a freshman at Lakewood High School, is an enthusiastic fan of the town’s annual holiday decorations. She eagerly bundles up with her friends to enjoy the festive blend of lights, music, and fireworks that adorn the streets.
“I saw so many lights hung on the main streets, on people’s porches,” Ward said.
Ward was impressed by the intricate decorations, but what stood out to her even more was the sense of community and togetherness that filled the air.
“It was a great time! It’s so fun to go with friends and family,” Ward said.
For Ward, the experience went beyond the visuals; It was the warmth of the people, the shared moments, and the collective spirit that made the event so special. She shared she is eager to attend more festivals throughout the year to continue making lasting memories with her friends and family.
Autumn Sabin is a teacher in Lakewood High School’s art department. Sabin thinks that the Christmas-themed spirit week is a standout, but it’s the inclusivity of the event that she particularly appreciates. Her favorite spirit day was “Ice Skaters v.s. Skiers.”
“I think it’s cool when they don’t make everything for Christmas because there’s a lot of kids here that don’t celebrate the holiday,” Sabin said.
Sabin works hard to ensure her classroom is a safe, loving, and accepting place for the students of Lakewood High School to express their inner artists!
Due to growing up in Akron and Mentor, Ohio, Sabin discovered our winter wonderland around 20 years ago when she started teaching. Since then, Sabin and her family have attended Light Up Lakewood almost yearly, following it with a holiday-themed play.
“I also really like how so many people get into the holiday spirit and decorate,” Sabin said. “There’s a neighbor of mine who has every Star Wars inflatable in their yard, it cracks me up. The lingering holiday spirit in Lakewood is like no other.”I live near Arthur Avenue and there’s just something about those houses, and Christmas lights, and snow,” Sabin said. “It’s like a Hallmark movie.”
The holiday season in Lakewood shines through the community’s dedication and spirit. From the dazzling street lights and decorated homes to the choir’s festival performances, the city of Lakewood embraces the magic of the holiday season. Whether through music, decorations, or shared memories, Lakewood’s holiday spirit is remarkable and unmatched.
