Civil War reenactors arrived early at the mansion

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

13th Mass. Infantry at the rotunda at the Asa Waters Mansion

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Early Sunday morning, the folks at the Millbury Baptist Church were setting up for the day

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

The manger at the Town Common

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Trolley service was taking everyone all over town

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Millbury Sutton Cheer group was raising funds for a competition in Florida

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Enjoying the day

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Santa and Mrs Claus

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Yummy snacks are everywhere

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Catherine Elliot all decked out in period costume

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Kids concert outside the mansion

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Sen. Michael O. Moore among the crowd today enjoying the day

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Millbury High Jazz Ensemble at the Senior Center

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

96.1 was at the Senior Center

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Time to light the tree

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Mr. & Mrs. Claus at the lighting of the tree with full military escort. A Civil War Christmas indeed

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

MILLBURY, Mass. - The town of Millbury was abuzz all day on Sunday with most of the town's people out and about enjoying the annual Chain of Lights 2011.

While the main crowds focused on the downtown area immediately surrounding the Asa Waters Mansion as the primary draw, there were crowds at other places as well.

The Millbury Baptist Church and the Millbury Federated Church right across the street offered sandwiches, cookies, home-made soup and chili.

St. Brigid's Church hosted the "Hockanmum Valley Ringers" a handbell ensemble that performed a concert coming up from Connecticut.

The Millbury High Jazz Ensemble and Brass Ensemble and Irish Step Dancers performed at the Millbury Senior Center to a packed house.

At the Millbury Public Library Rick Hamelin, the Pied Potter of Mamelin, did a story telling performance for kids and adults and Millbury Savings Bank had Mr. Kim, the award winning children's musician, who performed along with his puppets.

The biggest crowds, however were reserved for the Mansion where, as usual, the volunteer staff went all out for the townsfolk again this year.  Santa and Mrs. Clause, entertainment, wonderful food and snacks and  the Civil War Christmas.

Every year, the mansion invites someone to light the Christmas tree in the rotunda and this year, the Civil War renenactment unit, the 13th Massachusetts Infantry, were chosen. No strangers to Millbury, the unit has performed here many times.

They were chosen in honor of this being the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War and looking at them in the rotunda, one would need only squint just a bit to be brought back into a different time and era.