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Sweet traditions continue at Medford's Winter Lights Festival Brendan Lee, 3, of Medford, participates in the candy-cane hunt before the Medford Winter Lights Festival on Saturday. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Sunday Dec 4, 2016 at 2:00 AM Dec 5, 2016 at 10:38 AM Nick Morgan Mail Tribune @mtcrimebeat In a matter of 38 seconds, dozens of 11- and 12-year-olds made 800 Spangler miniature candy canes disappear from the Pear Blossom Park lawn Saturday afternoon. "That is a new Winter Lights Festival record," interim Parks Director Rich Rosenthal joked from the stage. As has become tradition over 14 years, Recreation Supervisor Sue McKenna was the one strewing those 5,000 candy canes, but McKenna will pass on the treat torch next year. Though McKenna will retire in June after 32 years with Medford Parks and Recreation, she was more focused on photographing children during Breakfast with Santa and spreading peppermint holiday cheer by the boxful. "It's all about the smiles on people's faces," McKenna said looking at the hundreds on the lawn. Among those smiling faces were mothers Missy Masterjohn and Sam Goodrich, whose 3-year-old sons each participated in the hunt for the first time. Masterjohn said she lives nearby and tries to attend as many park events as she can. "Every time there's something going on, we want to be a part of it," Masterjohn said as her son Matthew and Goodrich's son Owen played on a blanket while the two friends sat on lawn chairs. Others dropped by for the first time, such as DeAnna Luther, who came with Shane Lee and their 8-year-old son, Tanner. Interim Recreation Superintendent Jesse Nyberg said planning the annual event began this summer, finding new ways to mix it up such as 270 middle school choir students on stage who sang carols old and new, such as Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," later the South Medford High School band marched in with Santa before closing with a screening of the Holiday classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Gearing up to flip the switch lighting up the tree, Mayor Gary Wheeler said McKenna does "a little bit of everything," and said she'll be missed. "She's always here," Wheeler said. Though McKenna described herself as just one team member who helped pull off the annual festival, Interim Recreation Superintendent Jesse Nyberg said McKenna's energy will "definitely be missed." "She's always so positive," Nyberg said. McKenna said she's moved to see children she's served years ago come back with their own children. "It's pretty special," McKenna said. — Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat.