LEESBURG — The brick streets of historic downtown Leesburg were illuminated by 1,300 paper lanterns from 6 to 9 p.m.,  Saturday, Dec. 10  as the town held its annual Candelaria and Christmas Party. Santa Claus made an appearance as well, greeting families and receiving Christmas wishes in the old Town Hall after making the rounds in a fire truck.

The Candelaria has been organized by Christina Archer since 2010, when she returned to Leesburg after living and teaching in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas for several years with her husband Mark. Upon hearing the venerable tradition had lapsed in her absence from a friend, she immediately got to work reviving an event she had remembered fondly from her own childhood growing up in Leesburg.

This year Leesburg’s 4-H group, the Mighty Farmers, helped Archer with preparations. It took a group of six volunteers five hours to construct the lanterns and another two hours to place them up and down the streets.

“Her heart was always in this town,” said Pastor Mike Beezely of Clunette United Methodist Church, referring to Archer, who is also a neighbor; they both reside in the brick street section of Leesburg. The duo spent the evening singing Christmas carols, which Beezely accompanied on his ukelele.

“A lot of work goes into it but it’s worth it to see those boys and girls happy,” Archer commented.