The Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath rises through the darkness, on the first Tuesday of December. Less than an hour prior to the 8th annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
The Tree Lighting is sponsored in part by the College United Methodist Church, next door to the museum. They provided cookies and hot chocolate for the crowd of about 300 who showed up to watch the tree lighting.
When Santa Claus arrived he and Mack the Knight, the mascot of the Corvallis Knights, walked through the crowd handing out candy canes to all the children.
The nearly 40-foot Evergreen tree stands tall on the lawn of the Benton County Museum on Main Street in Philomath, decorated with Christmas lights. The Christmas lights were put on by members of the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce.
After the tree lighting the stars of the show depart in Philomath’s first ever fire engine. Philomath Fire Chief Tom Phelps, Mack the Knight, 2015 Philomath Frolic and Rodeo Queen Darian Anderton-Seim, and Santa Claus.
