West U Flocks to Tiny’s Tree Lighting

Maybe more than at any other time of the year, West U felt like the quintessential neighborhood Thursday night at Tiny’s No. 5 Annual Tree Lighting. 

Families came out in droves to watch the tree light up the neighborhood for the first night of the season from the grounds of the restaurant. White lights and giant red, green and silver ornaments framed the perfect Fraser fir, creating a magical spectacle. In addition to the Christmas lights, smart phones glowed, raised up above the crowd busily recording the festivities.

But a sparkling tree was just the beginning of the community merry-making. Santa was on hand ready to pose with children dressed in their Christmas best (lots of candy canes and Christmas trees on smocked dresses!). Holiday movies – The Grinch and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer being just two of many – were cued up and ready to roll continuously on the big screen adjacent to the tree on the lawn. Christmas music played inside and outside the restaurant. And servers dressed the part, wearing reindeer horns and Santa hats and jingle bells. 

Classic Christmas movies played continuously on the lawn.

Tiny’s gifts to the neighborhood, besides the joyful energy of the night, were a hot cider stand and another stand doling out their famous sugar donut holes. And everyone had their fill of the bakery’s signature chocolate chip cookies.

Babies watched with awe as toddlers and little kids ran around the grown-ups, who laughed at the teenagers trying to stage the perfect Instagrammable photos next to the tree. West U has always been known for being family-friendly and neighborly. But with all the generations – ages 0 to 100 – mingling, enjoying the holiday spirit, Tiny’s Tree Lighting has elevated West U into a true Mayberry. Right down to the reindeer twinkling on top of the neighborhood landmark.