La Cañada kicks off the holiday season with annual Festival in Lights
As Thanksgiving disappears in the rear-view mirror, early December finds local organizers finalizing plans for two upcoming winter-themed festivals designed to celebrate all things merry and bright.
Friday evening, from 4 to 7 p.m., La Cañada’s Memorial Park will be bathed in a warm wintertime glow as the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce hosts its 22nd annual Festival in Lights.
“The one thing about the Festival in Lights is there’s so much joy and happiness for everybody,” said Pat Anderson, president and chief executive of the chamber. “It’s just a chance to take a breath and take a break right before the holiday season begins and appreciate the many blessings we have in this community.”
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In addition to visiting and posing for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, children are invited to play 10 tons of freshly made snow produced just for the event and enjoy snacks, beverages and tacos available for purchase from local businesses.
Anderson said a newcomer will be making a special appearance Friday — a young camel named Malachi.
“The way we keep him happy is to feed him carrots,” Anderson explained. “So if you would like to feed Malachi a carrot, there will be an opportunity to do that.”
Choral groups from Palm Crest, La Cañada and Paradise Canyon elementary schools will charm audiences with holiday carols before the 5 p.m. arrival of St. Nick via a sheriff’s and fire department motorcade.
At 4:50 p.m., the 12 finalists for Miss La Cañada Flintridge will be introduced, and five members of the Miss LCF Court will be selected. Then, at 5:15 p.m., Santa will throw the switch on the lights, indicating the official start of the holiday season.
Festival-goers are encouraged to bring canned goods and/or unwrapped toys in support of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station annual Toy and Food Drive.
Another holiday tradition takes place next Wednesday evening at Glenola Park, from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., at a tree-lighting ceremony hosted by the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles’ La Cañada Service Unit and assisted by local Troop 1041.
In addition to the lighting ceremony, the free annual singalong will feature carols, cookies and cider and plenty of smiles.
This year, troops will collect donations for the Wildlife Learning Center, a wildlife biology and rescue organization in Sylmar. The center is in need of paper towels, hand sanitizer, printer paper, rakes, brooms and dustpans. For more information, call (310) 600-9552.
Glenola Park is located at 5200 Angeles Crest Highway, La Cañada. Memorial Park is at 1301 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
