Hundreds and hundreds of people filled the front lawn of the historic Fort 91原创 Community Hall on Saturday, Dec. 4, to mark the return of the first in-person Christmas tree lighting since the pandemic hit.

They applauded the 91原创 Community Music School children鈥檚 choir and cheered Santa鈥檚 arrival, then counted down with him to light up the tree.

As before, Santa had arrived at the public docks by river in a small flotilla of boats, and walked up Glover Road, escorted by many fans, with a few helpers keeping his way clear.

There was hot chocolate available from the little hut on the hall front lawn, compliments of Wendel鈥檚 Bookstore & Cafe.

Among those on hand for the event were Jesse Rypstra and his son Isaiah.

Rypstra, owner of 91原创-based Outline Christmas Lighting, was the reason the event went as smoothly as it did.

He stepped up when flooding cut the roads to Chilliwack, where the company that usually handled the lights was based.

鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� Rypstra told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚 was glad to be a part of it.鈥�

Sandy Cameron, treasurer of the , the group that operates the historic hall, said they were having trouble finding a last-minute replacement after the Chilliwack company reluctantly pulled out.

At one point, she said, the board of directors discussed renting lights and calling in volunteers to install them.

鈥淲e were considering do it ourselves,鈥� Cameron explained.

鈥淲e knew we weren鈥檛 going to cancel it.鈥�

But that would have meant no time to decorate the hall.

Then, one board member, who had hired Rypstra to do their home, suggested contacting him.

On the Wednesday before the tree lighting was scheduled, he agreed to take on the job, and had it completed by Thursday.

鈥淗e was terrific,鈥� Cameron enthused.

Brigitte Seib, executive director of the Fort 91原创 Community Hall, said it was difficult to calculate how many people attended, but it was substantial.

鈥淚 thought it was the most I鈥檝e seen in four years,鈥� Seib commented.

This year, the tree was a 10-metre tall Grand Fir, provided by a local tree farm, 鈥渁nd we already have one picked out for next year,鈥� Seib added.

More photos from the event can be viewed online on the .

READ ALSO: Fort 91原创 Christmas tree lights up without a crowd

Last December, owing to pandemic restrictions, the tree had been turned on without Santa, a crowd, or a countdown.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Christmas in 91原创鈥檚 Williams Park returns