At the 2024 Rose City Christmas tree lighting, the Caldwell Singers perform holiday songs. (Raquel Villatoro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Under the festive glow of downtown Tyler on Thursday evening, 9-year-old Luna Cruz, the 2025 Children’s Hospital Network Miracle Child, lit the City of Tyler’s towering Christmas tree, transforming the downtown square with holiday magic.

The 39th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, a beloved community tradition, followed the Rose City Christmas Parade, filling the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza with the sounds of holiday cheer from SOJO Orchestra, the Caldwell Singers and the Candy Crocker School of Dance.

As the final notes faded, children whispered their holiday dreams to Santa himself, who was ready for photos beneath the sparkling lights. After the lighting, bright colors filled the sky as drones brought holiday-themed and Tyler-themed shapes to the night sky, sparking joy to the heart of Tyler, creating memories to last the season.

“That was incredible,” said Tyler resident Kelechi Mmoubuike, 31, a UT Tyler doctoral student in human resource development and president of the Student Society of Human Resource Development, about seeing the brightly lit sky with images maneuvered by drones.

The drone show was privately funded, Mayor Don Warren said.

Tyler resident Maria Allen came out to the Rose City Parade and Christmas tree lighting to spend time with family, who was visiting from Nicaragua. Both Philip Allen, who grew up in Tyler and moved to Nicaragua with his wife to do missionary work, were surprised by the drones.

“I think it was really beautiful,” Maria said. “I’m so glad they were able to put it on this year.”

Since 1987, a Miracle Child has lit Tyler’s Christmas tree each year. These children, chosen for their inspiring stories, represent Children’s Miracle Network throughout the following year.

Luna was 5 years old when she started experiencing fatigue, excessive thirst, weight loss and tingling hands. One day her parents, Chelsey Clair and Jeramy Cruz, found her unresponsive and rushed her to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Christina Mosier, Program Manager at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals said Type 1 diabetes can affect any child, no matter their age or background. It’s not about genetics, diet, or anything a child or parent did — it’s a condition that can impact any family, at any time.

“Luna was born on Thanksgiving Day in 2015; bright, energetic child with natural ability, just all enthusiastic,” said Warren. “However, when she turned five, Luna became and had some troubling signs.”

Cruz experienced exhaustion, making it difficult to keep up with family activities and go to school. After moving to East Texas, her condition continued to worsen. Until, one day her parents could not wake her up. They rushed to take her to the Christus Emergency Room in Lindale. It was there they learned she had Type 1 diabetes.

“Luna now wears an insulin pump decorated with stickers, and with help from her Christus pediatric team, measures her condition confidently because of all the care that this family has received, they finally have their Luna back,” Warren said.

The Tyler Parks and Recreation crew installed and decorated the 30-foot artificial tree earlier in the week, carefully placing ornaments and preparing it for the Miracle Child’s special moment. A few hundred red bulbs added a pop of color to the traditional silver and gold display.

For the second year, the artificial tree has returned to kick off the holiday season, proving more cost-effective, labor-efficient, and low-maintenance than a real tree, while still just as beautiful.

“It was just really nice to have that experience here,” Mmuobuike said. “So I’m glad that I was able to participate in this, and I’m hopeful that next year, I’ll be able to bring my family to see this.”

After lighting the tree, Warren thanked Cruz.

“Thank you, Luna, you’re a special child,” he said.