PUNGO — Ray Brown slipped on some reflective outerwear shortly before the 14th Annual Pungo Village Christmas Tree Lighting kicked into motion because he had to cross traffic along Princess Anne Road and reach a very special guest.
“I’ve got to go get Santa,” he said.
Brown, who co-owns Pungo Pizza & Ice Cream, crossed and walked to a parking area. Santa waited near a hay wagon pulled by tractor. That was Santa’s ride to the gathering on Saturday, Dec. 4, in the heart of the village.
First, he had to climb up.
“Can you get over these?” Brown asked.
“I can get over that,” Santa replied. “These pants aren’t too tight. … Is there a good crowd today?”
“Absolutely,” Brown replied.
Santa used hay bales as steps to climb into the wagon, and soon he was off to greet hundreds of locals returning to an annual village tradition after the pandemic meant 2020 was a year off.
“Hi, Santa,” said Keon Boyd, 5, as Brown got Santa safely across the road.
The tree lighting is sponsored each year by the Pungo Village Landowners Association as a way to bring families together and promote the village, as well as businesses in a rural hub that is considered the gateway to southern Virginia Beach.
It takes money to put the event on, Brown said, and it takes volunteers, too. Brown, the treasurer of the association, and Tammy Burroughs Hindle, its president, said they hope folks who value this will consider donating or volunteering.
There already is support.
“One thing about Pungo is the community likes to help out,” Brown said.
But the hope is to grow the financial health of the event and perhaps event expand it next year. Hindle, in an interview, said the 15th tree lighting next year will be a celebration of the village and the event itself. She wants it to be bigger and better, perhaps even with a commemorative ornament. She said she hopes businesses may put up their own trees, tying in to the event and letting people get a sense of their products or services.
“What we need are donations to pay for the operating budget, the lights and other expenses,” Hindle said.
And, of course, Santa.
Ryu, the senior pastor at Charity United Methodist Church, asked the crowd how many years they had attended the tree lighting. Some were long-timers, and others were new.
“Well, we missed it last year, so we’re so glad to have it this year,” Ryu said.
Spirited performances followed. The lights came on, the tree shone bright and the people cheered in the village.
“Merry Christmas,” Ryu said.
“Happy holidays,” Buni said.
Donations to support the Pungo Village Christmas Tree Lighting can be sent by mail with checks made out to PVLA. Mail them care of Hindle, 1585 N. Muddy Creek Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.
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