“And now for the magic moment,” said Kathy Didden, just before she and her daughter Amanda Didden Edwards flipped the switch to light up the Capitol Hill Holiday during the 19th annual ceremony Nov. 22 on Eastern Market Metro Plaza at Seventh Street SE.
Hot chocolate, donuts and candy canes were served up by the Men and Women in Blue as Joyous Voices began the evening with carols, also their 19th performance before the Hill Holiday Tree.
Capitol Hill BID President Patty Brosmer told the crowd how she helped plant the tree in the spring of 2007 to honor the late George Didden III for his many contributions to Capitol Hill. It is called “Sonny” in his honor, the name by which he was known to family and friends. Before the count down, Didden and Edwards danced to the Marvin Gaye hit, “Sunny,” together with the Men and Women in Blue. Didden thanked the BID for keeping her husband’s memory alive. “I know if he could see this, he would be so proud,” she said. “This is fabulous.”
Brosmer welcomed Kojo Nnamdi, host of The Politics Hour on WAMU and former host of The Kojo Nnamdi Show, and Tom Sherwood, resident Political Analyst at WAMU 88.5 FM Politics Hour. The two served as joint Masters of Ceremonies for a fourth year. Tom Sherwood’s son, Peyton, will reopen Mott’s Market (212 12th St. SE) in the coming year; the Sherwood family had several seats reserved for the event.
In addition to Joyous Voices, the evening featured performances from the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) Suzuki Strings, which Nnamdi refers to as his favorite part of the evening; the Capitol Hill Chorale and the Washington Men’s Camerata.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for the area David Sobelsohn said that the event “starts off the season with a lovely, light-filled experience,” which Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) said was one of his favorite small-town community experiences.
When Didden flipped the switch, the tree lit up dramatically from the base to top, first the twinkle lights, then the globes and finally, the star. “It works!” She and Sherwood exclaimed, a reference to last year’s delayed illumination, as bubbles of “snow” fell down around the crowd.
Barracks Row Main Street has partnered with the BID for the Winter Lights’ Nightly Christmas Light Show— every evening on the hour from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.. Watch light sequences and festive visuals brighten the night in a cheerful, family-friendly atmosphere. Come for one show or stay for a few—each hourly performance is a perfect moment for photos. There’s a photo-perfect winter plaza, complete with lit-up wreath photo booth and a small glade of red and green trees.
There is still more celebration to come. All are welcome to attend the Community’s 12th Annual Menorah Lighting, co-hosted by the BID and Hill Havurah. It takes place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15, the second night of Hanukkah, on the front steps of Reformation (212 East Capitol Street NE). The Men and Women in Blue will serve jelly donuts and hot cocoa for the Festival of Light.
Get more info: capitolhillbid.org
