Christmas Tree Lighting: a 70-Year Tradition
More than 300 people showed up in the Castro Village Shopping Center last Friday to see the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The event was a tradition in the village for two decades in the 1950s and 60s. The community brought it back in 2016, and it has been a perennial favorite for families ever since.
The event featured performances from the Castro Valley School of Music, the Castro Valley Performing Arts Center Dancers, and the Castro Valley High School Madrigals Choir.
The ceremony also included the infamous Grinch trying to steal Christmas away only to be stopped by Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Santa himself.
The evening was also a chance for families to take photos with Santa, his elves, and even the Grinch, who changed his ways and welcomed the holiday spirit into town.