Jena Frantz (C) coordinates a selfie with Alex Frantz (L) and Ethan Feller Sunday night in front of the new Christmas tree on the Kosciusko County Courthouse Plaza. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW – A five-degree shift in temperatures would have made a world of difference Sunday night in downtown Warsaw for the first lighting of the new Christmas Tree on the Courthouse Plaza.

With temperatures in the mid-30s, instead of a scenic light snowfall, visitors to Kosciusko County Courthouse Plaza were greeted with a steady rainfall.

And yet, the event attracted hundreds of people Sunday night, Dec. 1, despite the less-than-perfect weather.

Festivities included Christmas music by the Breakfast Optimist Singers and a group from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church plus two sets of rock and roll music from Pickslide.

The unofficial kick-off to Christmas in Warsaw was sponsored by Warsaw Community Development Corporation and WRSW radio.

The activities began at 5 p.m. with music. The lighting of the new tree on the new courthouse plaza, originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m., was moved up because of the weather.

One of the biggest attractions of the night was the chance to win tickets to WRSW’s eighth annual Ornament Smash, sponsored in part by Lucky 7 Car Store.

Organizers estimated 400 people lined up to win 20 of the available 107 winning tickets for the Dec. 19 event at Lakeside Middle School. More than $40,000 in gifts, including a 2015 Chrysler 200, will be given away.

The radio station has a series of other opportunities to win tickets in the next few weeks.

On Friday, Dec. 6, the Christmas theme continues with First Friday’s Hometown Holly Days from 5 to 9 p.m. in the downtown. Activities include the Twinkle Parade at 6 p.m. and
“Light Up the Night,” in Central Park where the large-scale Christmas display will be lit up.

A sizeable crowd in the background listens to a choir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, of Warsaw, during Sunday night’s festivities in downtown Warsaw. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Five-year-old Keagan Hapner, of Mentone, greets Santa moments after the Christmas icon arrived  Sunday night in downtown Warsaw. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Pickslide’s lead guitarist, Chase Tenney, wears gloves with finger holes while playing Sunday night in downtown Warsaw. In the background is drummer Zeth Hoffer. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.