Adorned with red lights and pro-abortion messaging, a Satanic-themed “Christmas” tree was on full display during one of the most popular family holiday events in Fairbanks this past weekend.

Each year, nonprofit groups partner with area businesses and local government to put on the Winter Solstice Festival, which is billed as a “free, family-friendly event to brighten up the darkest days of Alaska’s winter.”

In addition to the annual fireworks show, craft bazaar, photos with reindeer and other events, the Winter Solstice Festival includes a Winter Lights Walk in Griffin Park, along the Chena River. The trail includes decorated and brightly lit Christmas trees, sponsored by various community groups.

This year, one of the approved trees was decorated in honor of Satan. Ornaments included Satanic pentagrams, and various upside-down crosses emblazoned with the words, “Your Body, Your Choice,” “Hail Satan,” “Hail Yourself,” “Satan Santa,” and “Satan Loves You.”

The Winter Lights Walk is intended to be an opportunity for local Fairbanks businesses to sponsor and decorate a tree along the downtown portion of the Chena River Walk to fundraise for area charities.

It’s unclear how the Satan tree was approved for this year’s event, but an organizer for the display indicated that approval of the Satan tree application was likely a mistake. It was paid for by a private individual who did not disclose how the tree would be decorated, or that it would advocate Satanic themes.

A local Fairbanks resident, Sami Migs, sent out a Facebook post on Dec. 19 to promote the Satan tree.

“Come see the Satanic-themed tree!” Migs wrote. “Join your local Satanists as we view the tree together and then walk to Lavelle’s Taphouse for a drink!” Migs added, “Enjoy new Satanic friends, the Sol Invictus spirit, the winter solstice, and a beer!”

The Fairbanks Borough Parks and Recreation is responsible for processing applications from groups who wish to sponsor and decorate trees for the river walk display.

Over the past few years, Satan “Christmas” trees have cropped up in various communities around the country. The movement appears to be a coordinated effort by the group to inject Satanic themes in what would otherwise be traditional Christmas celebrations that include a focus on the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

The Satanic Temple has taken similar approaches with regards to establishing after school Satan clubs, and offering opening prayers at local government meetings. These tactics are typically directed towards attacking expressions of Christianity in the public square. After school Satan clubs, which have been launched around the country in response to after school Bible clubs, include the stated goals of attacking Christian faith and promoting the idea that God does not exist. While there are no school Satan clubs in Alaska, the Satanic Temple has repeatedly made a mark in the state.

Nationally, The Satanic Temple is notorious for demanding to “pray” during borough, city and school board meetings if the gatherings also allow for Christian prayers. One of the group’s representatives in Alaska did this during several Kenai Borough meetings over the past few years, before the borough changed its policy regarding prayers from outside groups.

Nationally, The Satanic Temple also runs an online telehealth abortion clinic and firmly aligns itself with the LGBTQ political and cultural agenda. Last June, a group of Satanists sponsored an LGBTQ entry for the Anchorage Pride Parade.

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