ST. GEORGE — Excited giggles and handmade colorful Christmas ornaments filled Zions National Bank’s downtown branch at the annual Lights On tree trimming ceremony Wednesday in St. George.

Students from three elementary schools hung their decorations on the trees to continue the 50-year community tradition. The schools will each receive a cash donation of $100, bank officials said. There are 63 branches participating in Lights On events in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, Assistant Vice President and Public Relations Officer Kallee Feuz said.

The public may visit Zions Bank branches and see the decorated trees displayed during the holidays. Over 3,000 elementary school students participated in the annual event throughout Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

Maximiliano Alejos, a third grader, came with his mom and younger sister to hang his ornament on a tree. He said his classmates from Legacy Elementary School looked forward to touring the bank.

“Today we’re here to look at Zions Bank and put Christmas ornaments on the tree,” he said. “And we are here to do a tour around the bank and to have fun.”

Students also sang Christmas carols to their teachers, parents and Zions Bank employees in each branch’s lobby Lights On ceremonies.

“While this holiday tradition spans a half-century, our commitment to our communities goes back to our founding in 1873,” David Turner, manager Zions Bank’s St. George branch, said. “It’s a great way for us to give to our local schools as a thank-you for their festive ornaments.”

According to a news release, some branches have also invited students from special-needs classes and Title 1 schools to decorate the trees in their lobbies.

In an email to St. George News, Kenny Miller, Zions Bank’s Southern Utah region president, said the staff enjoys the tradition of students coming to their branches to help them ring in the holidays.

“This year is special because it’s the 50th anniversary of the bank’s ‘Lights On’ tradition,” Miller said. “It was fun to give students from Legacy Elementary a tour of our St. George branch and listen to them perform holiday songs.  Our staff, clients and the community love to see the creativity of ornaments on display during the holiday season.”

Two other Lights On events are scheduled for Washington County:

• Thirty-five fifth-grade students from Bloomington Elementary School will decorate a tree with homemade ornaments inside Zions Bank’s Bloomington branch, 144 W. Brigham Road, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

• Thirty K-5 students from Santa Clara Elementary will decorate a tree with homemade ornaments inside Zions Bank’s Snow Canyon branch, 1930 W. Sunset Blvd., at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

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