Downtown Chula Vista Association is kicking off the holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Park on Third Avenue. The ceremony will feature remarks from city officials and community leaders commemorating the beginning of the festive season in Downtown Chula Vista. The highlight of the evening will be the lighting of the iconic Christmas tree, a special moment that draws residents and visitors alike to the heart of Third Avenue.
DCVA District Manager Dominic Li Mandri said merchants on Third Avenue do very well during the holiday season, and the tree lighting ceremony kicks off the holiday season downtown.
“We are bringing back some popular festivities this year to encourage the downtown Chula Vista community, and the overall Chula Vista community to come to downtown to see the tree lighting, take pictures with Santa, then move on to Third Avenue and do some holiday shopping and grab dinner that night,” he said.
“Our weekly farmer’s market goes from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and on Dec. 1, we will transition our farmer’s market from 3 -6 p.m. it will be reopened as a Holiday Market, selling various holiday wares and trinkets for the community to shop and peruse. We are also having pictures with Santa set up underneath the Third Avenue sign. There will be a stage next to the tree for some speeches at the tree lighting and some light music so we can serenade the evening, and the crowd before we light the tree.”
Li Mandri said the tree lighting is from 5:30 to 6 p.m. with the tree lighting at 5:45 p.m.
“Participants can pick up a holiday shopping guide that we are putting together with local businesses, so after the tree lighting, they can head down Third Avenue, stop in at various restaurants and retailers and pick up some holiday discounts. We are going to have a shopper holiday shopping program where people can shop downtown Chula Vista during the holiday season and get some special discounts,” he said. “The city is expected to start its holiday décor installation the first week of December, so true to form, this holiday lighting will usher in the holiday season to Third Avenue, and from Dec. 2 onward, people should see the decorations in downtown in preparation for the Starlight Parade & Festival. We want the merchants downtown to fully maximize during the holiday season and we want the community to be part of this.”
Li Mandri said people are encouraged to attend in their holiday costumes, festive attire, and ugly sweaters, as there will be some type of program put together by the downtown merchants to encourage people to shop locally, and to do so in their holiday attire.
Following the tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 1, the City of Chula Vista will be hosting this year’s Starlight Parade & Festival on Dec.14 along Third Avenue. Get into the holiday swing in South Bay’s liveliest neighborhood this winter by donning your favorite festive sweater, supporting local businesses, and watching beloved local groups take to the streets in their holiday floats. For more information about the Starlight Parade, visit www.starlightparade.com.
