December 10, 2004

Campbell’s Carol of Lights celebrates 20th birthday

More than 5,000 revelers crowd downtown Sunday
evening in anticipation of holiday season

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

More than 5,000 Campbellites and neighboring residents braved the Bay Area’s cold snap Sunday night to attend the city’s 20th Carol of Lights Celebration in downtown Campbell.

Santa Claus was a favorite at Campbell’s Carol of Lights Celebration Dec. 5 in downtown. Cassidy Lien, 5, enjoyed a moment with the jolly fat old man.

It started in 1984 as a small tree lighting ceremony that involved decorating the Roosevelt Redwood seedling tree at the Campbell Community Center on the corner of Winchester Boulevard and Campbell Avenue. In 1996, it was moved to downtown Campbell when city officials realized the event was too crowded for the front lawn.

“The purpose of this celebration is to create community spirit,” said event coordinator Barbara Jones, who works as a recreation supervisor for the city.

Sponsored by the city of Campbell, the celebration costs about $20,000. Jones and Natasha Tukloff, a Campbell recreation coordinator, spend countless hours months before the event, which transforms a four-block area along Campbell Avenue from Second Street to Harrison Avenue into a winter wonderland complete with “snow.”

The avenue’s trees are decorated with white lights and its posts feature holiday greeting banners. The Ainsley House and the trees on the Orchard City greens are also lit.

Ever since the event’s inception the Campbell Kiwanis Club has also sponsored the popular Santa Claus visits which come along with coloring books, crayons, cookies and hot apple cider for children.

Jones, who has always been in charge of the event, said she thought of organizing the celebration one day when she was sitting in her car at the corner of the Winchester Boulevard and Campbell Avenue looking at the Roosevelt Redwood seedling tree. She thought the city should light it and have a small holiday event for the community.

She suggested the idea to the Campbell City Council, which has strongly supported the event throughout the years. Be careful what you wish for because the council put her in charge of the event.

The 58-year-old mother and grandmother of two has now become instrumental in Campbell’s successful summer concert series, the holiday craft fair in November, the summer day camp program and the Campbell recreation preschool program at the Campbell Community Center.

“I try to create community,” said Jones, who was raised in Campbell and graduated from Campbell High School. “I feel fortunate to have this position with the city and to create programs for the residents in the community that I grew up in and raised my family in.”

The celebration Dec. 5 included a snow play area, horse-drawn wagon rides, three motorized trackless train rides, face painting, 10 caroling community groups including local Boys Scout and Girl Scout troops, the Bay Area Showcase Chorus, Del Mar High School Choir, local church choirs, the Valley Baton twirlers (who are based at the community center) and the Dance Effects studio dancers.

Campbell resident Laura Lien attends the event every year because of the spirit found there. “I love people watching, and my three kids love it,” Lien said.

Sean Kohler was busy maneuvering his 2-year-old daughter Eliana on his shoulders so she could get a better view of the dancers. It was his first time at the event. “We love the horse rides. It’s such a nice touch,” he said.

Erica Bruce, 6, waited more than half an hour to hop on board a wagon to be taken on a short two-block ride pulled by horses Bud and Nash, ridden by Lauralye Casipit and Keith Andrade with the Redwood City-based Showring Productions company. “It’s so much fun,” exclaimed the toothy Bruce flashing a smile. “Riding the horses is my favorite part.”

What does Bruce want for Christmas? “A killer-whale rescue set,” she offered.

Julie Starr, director of the Bay Area Showcase Chorus, was on hand with about a dozen of her Sweet Adelines to entertain the crowds with beautiful a cappella music in barbershop harmony style. “We love to sing and share our music,” said Starr. “We were invited by the city. We’re all volunteers. We love to get together and share our holiday spirit with everyone.”

On Dec. 4, the group performed at Campbell’s newly opened Heritage Theater.

Campbell recreation workers Madison Sales, 17 and Kristin Stary, 17, were on hand to help hundreds of kids who showed up Sunday evening for a chance to say hello to Santa Claus, drink hot apple cider, play in the snow and go on wagon and train rides. “I love the holidays and I love children. It’s fun to be here,” said Sales.

“This is our first year working at this event. We think it’s awesome. I’ve been a resident of Campbell my whole life so it’s cool to finally take part in the whole ceremony,” Stary said.

Sales and Stary, who attended Campbell’s day camp programs every summer since they were toddlers, were finally hired this year as day-camp leaders when they turned 16.