Heather Henderson plays a flute for the FHS band as it performs at Falkville’s Christmas in the Park Sunday afternoon. | Clif Knight

An estimated crowd of 150 people celebrated the holiday season at the 17th annual Christmas in the Park at Jack McCaig Park in Falkville Sunday afternoon.

Falkville High School band entertained the audience with a medley of Christmas carols, David Halbrooks sang a heartfelt rendition of “O Holy Night,” Chief Chris Free lit the town’s Christmas tree and hot chocolate and homemade cookies were served to everyone.

A flag-raising ceremony conducted by Falkville police officers Sgt. Lynn Dean, Aaron Burgess and Keith Shepherd, followed by the pledge of allegiance, set a patriotic tone for the traditional celebration. Rebecca Shadden, a Falkville High student, set up the tree lighting by reading the poem “The Legend of the Christmas Tree.”

Emcee Bro. David Carroll, a member of Falkville’s town council, read the Christmas story from the Bible. He ended a prayer with these words: “May peace be you gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through.”

“I love it,” said Agnes Mait as she sipped from a cup of hot chocolate.

The Minnesota resident was in town visiting a grandson, Adam Meyer. Others in her party were Gary and Ella Meyer, Marsha and Tyler, from North Dakota.

“We have a Christmas sing along to worship the Holy Family where I live,” she said. “We also recognize the youngest child in the community.”