- November 19, 2019
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The Sunshine Mafia performs at Flagler County Public Library's “Holly” Day Festival of Trees. From left to right: Rachel, Jordan, Juliana, Jayden and Mariah Mills, Reina Robinson, Abe Mills. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Palm Coast United Methodist Church Handbells Choir. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Sunshine Mafia encouraged the crowd to join them in singing, dancing during the performance. Photo by Sierra Williams
Lilly, Rose and Pearl Groves pose with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Photo by Sierra Williams
Trees decorated by community organizations at the "Holly" Day Festival of Trees.Photo by Sierra Williams
Palm Coast United Methodist Church Handbell Choir Director Mary Jennings. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Palm Coast United Methodist Church Handbell Choir: Lorri Patrick, Cindy Bedell, Lynne Hall, Ellen Stuckey, Marilyn Wilson. Photo by Sierra Williams
Lorri Patrick plays the handbell. Photo by Sierra Williams
Trees decorated by community organizations at the "Holly" Day Festival of Trees. Photo courtesy of the Flagler County Public Library
Reina Robinson (left) and Juliana (second left) and Jayden Mills (second right) help lead the conga line with TJ and Addison Gillin (center) following. Photo by Sierra Williams
Di and Joe Pepin as Mrs. Clause and Santa, handing out candy canes to good little boys and girls. Photo by Sierra Williams
Trees decorated by community organizations at the "Holly" Day Festival of Trees. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jaden Khan (left) and Erika Saavedra (back right) carrying baby Moriah dance in the conga line as Joran Mills (center) plays. Photo by Sierra Williams
One of the trees decorated by community organizations at the "Holly" Day Festival of Trees.Photo by Sierra Williams
Rachel Mills leads the Sunshine Mafia performance. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Sunshine Mafia creates a conga line to Christmas tunes. of Photo by Sierra Williams
Blaine Vogel (left), Ashley Barns (center) and Leon Khan (right) are led in the conga line by Reina Robinson of the Sunshine Mafia. Photo by Sierra Williams
A marine's hat tops one of the Christmas trees the library. Photo by Sierra Williams
The library celebrated with more than just Christmas decorations. Photo by Sierra Williams
The trees were decorated with themed ornaments; this tree featured U.S. Navy ornaments. Photo by Sierra Williams
Juliana Mills, 12, sings the lead in the Sunshine Mafia's performance. Photo by Sierra Williams
Trees decorated by community organizations at the "Holly" Day Festival of Trees. Photo by Sierra Williams
Jordan, Jayden and Mariah Mills perform together. Photo by Sierra Williams
Mariah Mills and Reina Robinson sing Christmas tunes to the crowd. Photo by Sierra Williams
Santa and Mrs. Claus pose with Elf On the Shelf co-author Carol V. Aebersold. Photo by Sierra Williams
Toy marine soldiers decorate the base of one of the trees. Photo by Sierra Williams
A Flagler County Sheriff tree featuring a large "Sheriff Rick Staly" badge. Photo by Sierra Williams
The holidays came early this year in Flagler County — or at least, its Festival of Trees did.
The event was held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Palm Coast main branch of Flagler County's library. They hosted the Palm Coast United Methodist Church's handbell choir and a local performing family group, the Sunshine Mafia. The two groups played Christmas tunes for the crowd.
While most of the crowd sat enraptured by the performances, Christmas trees decorated the library. Over forty trees were decorated for the event by local community organizations, including the Post 115 American Legion, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Community Cats of Palm Coast, several churches and veterans organizations and more.
The staff dimmed the lights throughout the performances and and turned on the tree lights instead — the room was backdropped by its own winter forest between the book stacks.
“We feature many trees that are decorated by local non-profit organizations, and we wanted to make sure everyone has ample time to come in and see them,” Library Director Holly Albanese said in a press release earlier in the week. “This annual tradition – sponsored by both the Library and the Friends of the Library – is a favorite.”
Mary Jennings directed the handbell choir, while the performers stood should to shoulder and rang out familiar Christmas tunes like "Silent Night," "Amazing Grace."
Jennings invited the crowd to come out play with their choir at any of their normal meet ups. Handbell, she said, is a dying art they are trying to preserve.
"We're trying to keep [the handbell choir] alive," Jennings said. "It's a ministry."
The Sunshine Mafia is a local Palm Coast family who also happens to have 698,000 subscribers on YouTube. The family uses their channels and performances to spread sunshine.
"We're all about spreading sunshine," Rachel Mills said. "Life is too short to let somebody steal your joy."
The group performed loved Christmas carols to the crowd, pulling people out of their seats to join them in dancing and creating a conga line of around the room.
Visitors could also take a trip and see Santa and Mrs. Claus at the event. The two, played by Joseph and Di Pepin, listened carefully to each child that came up to see see them, handing out candy canes to every one.
The "Holly" Day Festival of Trees was held a little early this year because Thanksgiving happens to fall on the last Thursday of the month, according to an earlier press release from the Flagler County Public Library.
