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Southeast Lancaster lights up for the holiday (photos)

Ole Hongvanthong, foreground, takes a group photo with Santa Claus at Crispus Attucks Community Center during Light Up Southeast on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (Photo: Brian Nguyen)

Ole Hongvanthong, foreground, takes a group photo with Santa Claus at Crispus Attucks Community Center during Light Up Southeast on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (Photo: Brian Nguyen)
Ole Hongvanthong, foreground, takes a group photo with Santa Claus at Crispus Attucks Community Center during Light Up Southeast on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (Photo: Brian Nguyen)

Southeast Lancaster welcomed the holiday season Friday with its annual "Light Up" event, hosted by Crispus Attucks Community Center.

Visitors enjoyed hot chocolate, music and photos with Santa Claus — a Black "Just Like Me" Santa, to celebrate diversity in representation. The centerpiece was the lighting of the neighborhood's Christmas tree, with Santa and Mayor Danene Sorace leading the countdown.

"The sheer creativity and unity showcased by the Southeast neighborhoods left me in awe," wrote photographer Brian Nguyen.

"Light Up Southeast goes beyond being just a holiday event; it's a testament to the incredible spirit of this community," he wrote. "It invites everyone to experience the magic of the season in a truly unique and unforgettable way."

Photos