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Updated: 5:12 PM Dec 21, 2009
The Living Christmas Tree brings Christmas story to Knoxville again
A Christmas tree 50 feet tall is calling the Thompson-Boling Arena its new temporary home this Christmas. Some say the best thing about the tree is it sings to you.
Posted: 11:18 AM Dec 21, 2009Reporter: Rebecca Solomon Email Address: rebecca.solomon@wvlt-tv.com |
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1 Comments 
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Call them perfectionists, call them experts...Whatever you call them, one thing's for sure, volunteers are turning Christmas into the Living Christmas Tree.
Eddie Smith is the event coordinator. He says, "It's indescribable, you put all the work and time and effort, all the people, everybody, but what's most important is when we see the alter call at the end and the hundreds of people."
Hundreds of volunteers from the Sevier Heights Church make the Living Christmas Tree production successful.
Jon Tyner is the director of the production. He says, it involves over 300 cast members"It's about 240 choir members, 60 orchestra members and it's a production that mainly tells the story of Jesus' birth and life and death and resurrection."
The Living Christmas Tree began in 1989. 20 years later, this 50 foot tree is seen by nearly 50,000 spirited audiences.
Smith says, "I like it all, probably the manger scene- watching the kids reaction when the camels come in, all the kids at the end of their seats, and the smiles on their faces and the reaction the kids have."
The Living Christmas Tree 2009 ends tonight- that's when volunteers say they'll prepare for Christmas 2010.
If you would like to see the Living Christmas Tree, it's free. All you need to do is bring a ticket to tonight's final performance at 7 at the Thompson-Boling Arena. For more information call 577-2937.
Latest Comments
mY FAMILY AND I WENT TO THIS PERFORMANCE ON SUNDAY AND IT WAS GREAT JUST LIKE ALL THE YEARS PAST. I WOUKD HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS YEAR WAS BETTER. I AM A CHRISTIAN PERSON AND BELIEVE THAT AN ALTER CALL IS VERY MUCH NEEDED AT THE END OF EACH SERVICE. THE ALTER CALL AT SUNDAYS PERFORMANCE WAS EXTREMLY HORRIBLE. THE SPEAKER TALKED MOSTLY ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND THE POINT HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE COULD HAVE BEEN SPOKEN IN A TOTTALLY DIFFERENT WAY. IF THERE WAS A SINNER THAT NEEDED PRAYER AND WANTED TO COME DOWN THE URGE PROBABLY LEFT THEM BEFORE THE MAN WOULD SHUT UP. MY FAMILY AND I LEFT DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THE SPEECH. YES I WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR BUT THE ALTER CALL COULD BE DONE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND STILL HAVE PEOPLE SAVED. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE SPEECH.
