City of Colton Holds Traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony to Kick off the Holidays

On Dec. 1, following a countdown led by Colton Mayor Sarah Zamora, over 6,000 lights wrapped around the Christmas tree outside Colton City Hall were finally switched on. According to City of Colton Recreation Manager Deb Farrar, the City’s tree lighting ceremony has been an ongoing tradition for over 20 years. Farrar explained that the Community Services Department coordinates the event and is assisted by the police and fire departments. The parks division of the Public Works Department, led by Al Garcia, hangs all of the lights decorating the lawn and the tree. Free refreshments, which included hot chocolate and coffee, were partially sponsored by the Colton Chamber of Commerce. “Streets assists us and electric loans us generators,” Farrar said. “I think the entire City is involved in one way or another.” Guests lined up on the sidewalk of La Cadena Drive to view the stage and the tree on the other side of the street. The evening’s program included performances by the Colton High School choir and Hip Hop Dance Team, as well as The Door Fellowship Children’s Choir. Alexis Felix, who sang several solos, including “Ave Maria,” said she performed at last year’s ceremony but that this year felt different because she is now the president of the choir, and thus more involved. “I feel like our community’s been doing very well this year,” she said. The 17-year-old shared that she has been increasingly involved in community events. “It’s so weird because for Veterans Day, when they had the veterans ceremony, they didn’t have someone to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ she said. “I’m in the marching band, and it so happens they ran to the marching band and said, “We need someone to play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ but everyone was like no, she sings. So I actually sang ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ for the Veteran’s Day Parade.” Another Colton High School choir soloist, Kevin Jaquez, 15, said it was his first time attending and performing at the event, and though he was “a little scared” he felt “it was fun, a lot of fun.” Attendee and former Colton resident Nan Franco now lives in Pomona, but still comes to Colton’s tree lighting ceremony year after year to spend time with her family. She shared that she had volunteered for the Colton Police Department for many years. Franco’s granddaughter also performed that night in the Colton High School choir. Franco said she enjoyed “getting to see the community together. It’s fabulous; that’s a neat idea. And of course all the officials, we get to see them every year and say hello. It’s just a neat occasion to have a family get-together because I don’t get to see them that often either, and when we do things like this, we all get together.” Corinne Gonzales, who is the godmother of Franco’s granddaughter and whose two sons also performed in the choir, brought her husband, Roman, and their six children to the event. “I like it because I wanted a set tradition in our family, so that maybe our kids’ kids will do the same thing and they will also continue to keep it going,” she said. After the tree was lit, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus arrived on a fire truck and sat on the City Hall lawn to meet with the children. “I look forward to seeing all the kids in their Christmas gear and how excited they are to see Santa,” said Farrar. “I think that’s pretty much everybody’s expectation for this event.” Not too far off, the animated movie “The Rise of the Guardians” played on the big screen for families to enjoy. In previous years, the movie and Santa visit took place in Fleming Park, but this year both were in the same venue as the lighting. Farrar, who has worked in recreation since she was 19 and has been the recreation manager for 12 years, said the holidays were a special time for her department. “I just love the spirit that everybody is in,” she said. “We try to inspire a positive spirit and good cheer all year long, so this is really a great month for the Community Services Department, because it’s kind of a great personification of what we like to represent all year long.”