EDOM - About 20 children are expected to perform here Dec. 5 when officials host the town's annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, Carolyn Hargrove said.

"It's a traditional welcome to the holiday season, and we'll have the children's Christmas chorus from the community."

For more than 20 years, the event has been a constant in the community. It was originally hosted downtown before being moved to the Edom Community Center after changes in property ownership, Hargrove said.

"But it just wasn't the same. Downtown is the heart of the community, so it was moved back here. This is the fourth year the tree ceremony has been back downtown. "

The event is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Edom Historical Society musuem.

"Most of the shops will be open during the lighting program, " Hargrove said. "Santa Claus will arrive in the firetruck with sirens blaring, and one of the churches will also provide treats for the kids."

The ceremony drew about 150 last year.

"We had about 300 the year before that, and we expect at least a couple of hundred this year," Hargrove said.

"We expect 80 to 100 kids."

Hargrove is director of the children's chorus. Participants are between 5 and 13 years old.