Christmas Tree Lighting Fun for Young and Old

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – The excitement was palpable as more than 1,000 children, moms, dads, grandparents and others descended upon the perimeter of Citrus Heights City Hall for the annual tree lighting festivities on December 1.

No bundling up was necessary as perfect fall temperatures greeted those awaiting the flick of the switch by Mayor Steve Miller and Santa Claus that lit up hundreds of multi-colored lights on the 23-foot-tall redwood tree in front of city hall.

Emcee Nichole Baxter with the City Manager’s office also introduced City Manager Chris Boyd, and Citrus Height’s new Chief of Police Alex Turcotte.

Attendees enjoyed the new, more open and inviting layout surrounding City Hall. All five senses were fully engaged on this night with the aroma and tastes of kettle corn, cookies and hot chocolate and the classic holiday sounds of the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band. Colorful mice characters and even a bear joined huge inflatable balloons, including the event’s traditional two-story tall reindeer as it oversaw those celebrating their long-awaited freedom to be out and about again.

Several community organizations such as the Rocklin Academy helped young artists create their own decorations with different materials. Many wrote letters to Santa.

For further visual delights two dozen trees, many unusually decorated, peppered the walkway behind city hall as attendees often stopped to ask, “what is that” as they tried to figure out its theme or decorations. Sections of the police department, several community groups and Mesa Verde and San Juan High Schools also adopted trees.  Even Grinch snuck in to steal one!

No one seemed to mind the long lines for over 500 photos with Santa, food, or mini train rides as they enjoyed their families on this first official day of holiday family celebrations.

Finally, all kids’ favorite, a big red fire truck was provided by Sacramento Metro Fire. Excited kids sat in and inspected the truck and its fire equipment. Ryan Bask with Sac Metro Fire said, “It’s nice to be able to share what we do and share in their excitement for the fire service and our engines”.