Veteran inspires first-ever Hayfield Holiday Fest

(ABC 6 News) – The city of Hayfield had its first-ever Hayfield Holiday Fest Saturday.

What started as a Christmas parade last year during the pandemic to bring the city some holiday cheer, has now turned into a whole event.

Something new this year was the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The idea was sparked by 90-year-old veteran and life-long Hayfield resident Delmont Martin.

Martin has always wanted to see the big tree behind the American Legion decorated and lit up for the holidays, so Richard Rieken with the Hayfield Chamber of Commerce helped make that happen. Rieken and others got a couple of local businesses to chip in some money. Saturday they lit up the tree for the first time for the community to see.

"Well, I’ve been looking at it for several years but I couldn’t get anybody to listen to me. And whether this year either I talked to the right people or it was just the right time, after this COVID thing and everybody is ready for a party. They said well let’s do it," Martin said.

Rieken said lighting up the tree was not an easy task since it is 65-feet tall, but it worked out and the community is very happy about it.