BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN  COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TRADITION

Reprinted from the Berlin Red & Green
By Makayla Trochinski, Reporter
December 1, 2025

Every year, the city of Berlin, along with the community puts together a festive holiday parade and Christmas tree lighting ceremony to ring in the season of giving. There is one student-led organization in particular that decided to carry on traditions in Nathan Strong Park for the tree lighting ceremony.
“For the past two years, we’ve decided to decorate a tree for the community. We were actually offered to do a Christmas tree last year, and then we got another Christmas tree offered to us this year,” FFA President Addison Dominick said.
One way to show outreach in the community is to show off a festive tree in Nathan Strong Park. Berlin’s FFA chapter took advantage of this to show what they do for the community.
“We have gold and blue garland wrapped around the tree with blue lights. We also have ornaments with pictures in them that show what we do during the year, like our community service events. We have pictures from roadside clean-up, donut dash, and some other events like the National Convention and the Alumni Banquet from last year,” Dominick said.
Dominick also expressed how important it is for clubs and student organizations in Berlin to get out into the community.
“It’s a great way to show off what we do in our community through the tree. This gives people the opportunity to see what we do for our local community and what we do as an FFA in Berlin,” Dominick said.
Decorating trees in the park isn’t the only way students get involved in the beginning of the holiday season. Berlin High School band members have their fair share of planning, preparing, and walking to do in the holiday parade, as well. Some band members have been involved in the parade longer than they can remember.
“I have been involved in the parade since my first year of marching which was in seventh grade,” senior band member Aubrey Meyer said.
Meyer also expressed how the holiday parade is different from the music they usually perform in concerts.
“It’s super fun because it gives a festive feel to the parade. Christmas music is a lot more fun to play than the concert music that we play every year,” Meyer said.
Being involved in the parade can give a festive, holly-jolly ambience that many in the community hope to gain this Christmas season. Meyer expressed the joy it brings her to see this every year.
“I love how all of the little kids are still excited to see the band, and everyone’s reaction to the band playing the festive music,” Meyer said.
There is more to the parade than just the band and their festive tunes. Students who work at different local businesses that have a parade float in Berlin, also participate in the festivities.
“I work at the Kitz and Pfeil (Ace Hardware) in town. I thought it would be fun and it’s also supporting my workplace,” junior Jazmyn Cerros said.
A big delight of a parade is the candy, and Cerros couldn’t agree more.“One of the best parts of the parade is handing out the candy. It’s so cute seeing all of the little kids get excited for it,” Cerros said.
Between the commitments at school and the commitments outside of school, students who participated in the parade say they liked seeing their hard work pay off with the many people who came to see the most wonderful time of the year.
“It’s a good way of getting out there, letting people know who you are, and what you’re involved in outside of school. It’s a fun way to stay active in the community,” Cerros said.