Community saves Christmas after vandal destroyed tree at CACGA
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A Christmas tradition nearly three decades in the making continued despite an act of vandalism that forced organizers to completely reimagine their annual celebration.
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen has hosted its illumination event for 27 years without incident. But plans for the 2025 edition literally fell through after an unknown vandal took a chainsaw to the event's 40-foot centerpiece cedar tree.
"It's a great lesson in learning from adversity," CACGA President K Alferio said. "And when something happens, you just figure out how to move on and make something better."
Rather than cancel the beloved community tradition, Alferio and the center's team decided to improvise. They reached out to the community for help, and the response exceeded all expectations.
"We were truly overwhelmed. We got so many lights and garland and decorations that we were able to fill up this whole big field," Alferio said.
The result was thousands of Christmas lights lining the center's brand-new outdoor event space, creating a spectacular display that drew cheers from attendees during the countdown.
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