The Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the day after Thanksgiving is an annual event for families in this traditionally blue-collar town, typically attracting at least 1,500 people. But this year, Dave Clements, who oversees the tree lighting, was not happy to see families pile out of vehicles and head into the park. Most wore masks and kept their distance, but for Clements, there were too many people amid a pandemic.
The 61-year-old retired electrical contractor had asked that there be no public celebration in 2020. Outside gatherings of more than 25 people had already been banned by the state to curb the coronavirus, an order that especially made sense in places like Bay City, which was being hammered by the pandemic.