The annual Ceres Christmas Festival is being planned by the city of Ceres Recreation Department for Saturday, Dec. 7 with the opening of Christmas Tree Lane to follow.
The free event takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth Street. The event will include crafts, face painting, writing letters to Santa, food vendors and pictures with Santa. Free coffee and hot chocolate will be served and deserts but vendors will be on hand selling food including Ivan’s Incredible Popcorn, E&C Mexi Teriyaki, Betsy’s Agua Fresca’s, Raising Cane’s and others.
In preparation for Christmas Tree Lane, residents on Henry Avenue and Vaughn Street are busy decorating their houses and yards for the annual spectacle of the celebrated Christmas Tree Lane, a Ceres tradition since December 1961. Over the years neighboring blocks to the south have also decorated their yards.
To officially open Christmas Tree Lane at 7 p.m. a parade will begin at Fowler and Moffet roads and wind down Christmas Tree Lane on Henry Avenue and Vaughn Street. Marching bands from Ceres and Central Valley high schools will lead the way through as surrounding streets will be closed to vehicular traffic. Dance groups will include local dance studios as well as the schools.
Because of community complaints, vendors will not be permitted to sell items along Christmas Tree Lane but spaces for vendors will be set up in Smyrna Park along Moffett Road opposite the opening of the lane. Those city-approved vendors in the park will include Vic’s Churros, Birria Fuego, Crabs in Your Pants, Culichi Mini-Pancakes and Natalia’s Crepes.
For decades the Ceres Christmas Festival preceding the opening of Christmas Tree Lane was held at Smyrna Park but the venue changed to the Ceres Community Center in 2022 on account of the threat of rain.
The lane will be closed to vehicular traffic Saturday evening only to accommodate pedestrian strollers.
Grace Community Church has volunteered to provide a live nativity scene at or near Christmas Tree Lane but the date and exact location are in the works. Plans will be to have nativity characters walking the lane, handing out candy canes and spreading festive cheer.
Hughson celebrates too
The Hughson Chamber of Commerce and city of Hughson are teaming up to put on Hughson’s annual Christmas Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. A Santa’s Workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hughson Senior Center, 2307 Fourth Street, Hughson. The event includes pictures with Santa, cookie decorating and crafts for the kids. Those wishing to help brighten the holiday for an underprivileged child may bring a new unwrapped gift when the families visit Santa.
Hughson will host a Christmas Parade starting from the Hughson sports complex at 5:30 p.m. and go down Main Street with a Christmas tree lighting afterward
United Samaritan’s Foundation will serve hot chocolate and cookies at Centennial Park from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at centennial plaza.
The Hughson Historical Museum will also be open this Saturday during the festivities and offer refreshments after the parade.