Holiday Season Fun Kicks Off This Weekend

By Chris Furguson
This weekend begins the local drive towards the holiday season with several events to promote the holiday spirit and bring attention to local vendors and businesses.
On Friday, December 4,  Calexico will have their annual “Tree Lighting Ceremony” at City Hall.  Public is welcome and the event begins at 4 pm.
Saturday, December 5, will see the annual El Centro Christmas Parade.  With the theme of  “Home for the Holidays,” dozens of floats, bands and groups will head south on 8th Street in El Centro from Adams to Aurora.
Booths alongside the street and at Bucklin Park will also add to the city’s event.
This year will mark the 64th annual Christmas parade in El Centro, which will have returning champion Central Spartans carrying the Victory Bell down the street along with guest of honor Santa Claus.
In Brawley, on Sunday, December 6, Santa Claus will be the final guest at the 2009 Christmas on Main.  This year, like previous years, the annual event will feature Christmas Carols from Noteworthy as well as free hot chocolate, a cookie decoration station and free coloring times.
Free gifts from Santa and picture opportunities will also be provided for kids in addition to a proposed tobaggan run, an upgrade from last year’s snowball field.
The program is slated to begin at 4 pm and continue until 6, with the appearance of Santa.  The event is free to the public.
December 12 will have a pair of events going on, including a Christmas Parade in Calexico and a street fair in Imperial.
Next week’s Calexico Christmas Parade will be a continuing tradition for the border city, with parades and other things taking place.
For those of you unable to attend the Calexico Parade, you have the option of going to the annual Christmas in a Small Town in Imperial.
Imperial’s street fair, is designed to provide unusual gifts for Christmas and get people in the Holiday spirit. Santa will make an appearance too.