Peachtree City's

annual tree lighting ceremony will take place at City Hall Plaza Saturday,

Dec. 2.

The tree will

be lit at 7 p.m. sharp by Mayor Bob Lenox. Afterward, Santa Claus will

arrive on a special golf cart to hear the children's Christmas wishes.

Again this

year, the city will collect toys and gifts at the tree lighting for local

needy children. This year, the donations will be forwarded to the Fayette

County Department of Family and Children Services.

DFCS officials

have indicated there is a greater need this year for gifts aimed at pre-teen

and teenage youths such as gift certificates to local clothing stores.

The city also

will accept toys and gifts at the Recreation Department for the next two

weeks, said Susan Taylor.

The ceremony

leading up to the countdown will begin at approximately 6:50 p.m., Taylor

said. Lenox will ask the crowd for assistance in the countdown, which

will be marked by the city's special countdown machine as it ticks down

to the special moment.

Santa will

be on hand with candy canes for the children, but he won't be the only

entertainment at the event.

A chorus from

Oak Grove Elementary School will serenade the crowd, and Christ Our Shepherd

Lutheran Church will have its boys' youth choir and bell choir on hand.

Additionally,

a singing group from Fayette Community Theater will be on hand to help

put everyone in the Christmas spirit. Soloist Spencer Mulkey from Newnan

will also perform.

All the entertainment

acts are scheduled to start after the tree is lit.

The Youth Advisory

Board of the Commission on Children and Youth will have cookies for children

to decorate and they also will be selling drinks as a fund-raiser.

"We're

looking forward to starting the Christmas season," Taylor said.