HARLINGEN — The scowling Grinch skulked and crouched and prowled, sneaking around the spectators gathering and joyously cringing from the green pest.
“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a heel,” sang Carlos Canas Friday night in front of the Harlingen Convention Center for the first annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
In the falling twilight the commanding tree with all its fanfare of globes and the silent lights waiting to come alive, spectators came in a trickle at first. It seemed simple enough, with the Grinch roaming around in his comic ugliness handing out treats to children like Ellie Reynolds, 5, and her sister Teddy, 7.
“This is a fabulous and truly awesome event,” said their grandfather, B.T. Vargas in his fine suit as the girls in their glittery reindeer horns looked wide-eyed at the nasty Grinch who’d just given them treats.
“I brought my two precious little ones just to have the experience with the mayor to have some sense of citizenship and be part of the city,” said Vargas, who is also pastor at Tabernacle Church.
He wasn’t there to give the invocation, though, just to be a part of history with his granddaughters. Because you see, this was a historic evening: the first time the City of Harlingen and the HCC would host a Christmas Tree Lighting.
What started out as a small gathering of people over the ensuing minutes swelled into a large crowd of people, many of them singers and cheerleaders and city leaders and Mayor Norma Sepulveda enjoying her first Christmas in her new position.
“Isn’t this just a beautiful facility?” Sepulveda told the crowd.
“I just want to remind everyone that Jesus is the reason for the season,” she said. The thanked the “amazing” City Commission for the selfless service for the city without being paid.
“I want to thank each and every one of you here,” she said.
While everyone waited for the darkness to arrive more fully so that the enormous tree behind her could have its full measure of illumination, local talent showed its talent on a grand scale. The Harlingen High School Center Stage Choir gathered before the stage with the tree rising tall behind them, and delivered a fine and joyous performance.
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” they sang, their Christmas dresses and black suits and arms swaying and twirling about in a fine choreographed movements impressive in the smoothness and complexity.
Finally enough darkness arrived to allow for the main event.
“Are you ready to light the tree?” the mayor asked.
Everyone was in agreement. Let the show begin.
“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!”
And the tree towering over the crowd suddenly lit up in a warm flame of light. And then …
Something green was caught in the glare and …
“The Grinch is here!” Sepulveda said. “You better not steal any ornaments from that tree!”
The Grinch continued to prance and make gyrations before slipping away toward the front doors of the HCC.
And then there were sirens and lights whirling and a huge fire truck bearing Santa who stepped out and greeted the children, while the Grinch tried with funny futility to steal the show.
It’s as they say, if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. Finally accepting defeat, the Grinch graciously posed for photos with kids and families, a faint smile showing through his green-faced scowl.
