Ucross Christmas Celebration Draws a Large Crowd.

The Christmas trees were alight, and the Raymond Plank Center in Ucross was standing room only on Saturday night, Dec. 11, at the 9th Annual Ucross Community Christmas Celebration.

Sharon Dynak, president and executive director of the Ucross Foundation, gave a welcome speech to open the event.

The Buffalo High School Balladiers, directed by Music Director Leah Hoblit and accompanied by Marcie Leis, sang a selection of Christmas Carols, including Pat-a- Pan, Away in a Manger, White Christmas and Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas.

Ucross Board member Jim Nelson introduced Craig Johnson, author of the best-selling Longmire series, who then read his newest Christmas story, Warms you Twice featuring Walt Longmire and a firewood thief. Johnson looked over the large audiance and felt the Ucross population sign might have to be changed.

This year, the event included a piano performance by Ebenezer Eferobor, an internationally experienced composer who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and attended Sheridan College. Eferobor performed some original compositions, then urged the audience to join in a Christmas carol.

At 6:30, the audience was invited outside to enjoy the fireworks display by Bruce Burns and crew. Joe Reed announced the start of the fireworks display with a boom from a cannon.

Nearly 200 people attended the program, and Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross Communications & Special Events Manager said this year’s event had the best attendance they had ever had.