It was standing room only in the auditorium of the LawrenceCounty Civic Center Friday night as residents celebrated a”Festival of Lights.”

The event, which featured singing by the Lawrence County HighSchool choir, the elementary choir and other local musicians, drewa large audience. Also featured during the Festival of Lights werean abundance of Christmas trees individually decorated by variousMonticello businesses and charitable organizations and photos withSanta Claus.

Visitors also flocked to see the town’s Christmas season beginwith the turning on of the lights at Cooper’s Ferry Park precedingthe Festival of Lights. Kendra King, the county’s Miss Hospitality2005 who recently won the Miss Mississippi USA pageant, was giventhe honors.

The festival continued Saturday with more photos with SantaClaus at the civic center and vendor booths selling food and artsand crafts. All sales benefited a charity of the booth’s choice,which was prominently displayed.

Festivities in the morning were found in New Hebron with aspecial Christmas parade celebrating the town’s centennial.

The town’s weekend festivities ended Saturday night with theMonticello Christmas parade.

In Wesson, hundreds of area residents came out on a chillyafternoon Friday to watch the annual Christmas parade. Music wasprovided by the Wesson High School Marching Band and theCopiah-Lincoln Community College Blue Wave Marching Band.

Santa Claus made an appearance as well as Smokey the Bear.Dancing tots, floats and beauty queens highlighted theprocession.