DOTHAN:
Last night, downtown Dothan felt like pure Christmas magic as families awaited the annual tree lighting ceremony. Kids ran around in excitement, parents bundled up with hot cocoa and cameras ready, and the whole community seemed to pause and take in the spirit of the season together.
The decorative canopies glowed with color, candy-striped bows lined the walkway, and the giant Christmas tree stood tall in the center like something straight out of a holiday movie. Laughter, music, and the sound of children calling out for Santa filled the air.
As the elves danced and Santa made his way onto the stage, you could feel every child in the crowd light up. Dozens of families gathered shoulder-to-shoulder, counting down the final seconds to the big moment.
The tree burst alive in thousands of sparkling lights — red bows shining, fog rolling across the stage, and a brilliant star beaming across downtown. For a moment, everyone stopped and just took it in, and the entire community felt connected.
From the decorations to the lighting ceremony itself, last night showed the heart he has for this community — and families across the Wiregrass appreciate it more than words can say.
Thank you, Mayor Mark Saliba, for helping make nights like this possible and for giving our children and families a tradition to look forward to every Christmas season.
As families lingered past the lighting to take photos under the glow of the tree, one thing was clear: Dothan didn’t just light a tree last night — we lit up the spirit of the whole city.
