WATSONVILLE — In what has become an annual tradition, a 30-plus-foot living tree was delivered recently to the Watsonville Plaza to be decorated for the holiday season.
This is the sixth year that a holiday tree has been donated to the Watsonville community by a local business owner. Auto Care Towing has donated its equipment to deliver the tree to the Plaza and then to a permanent home in another park after the holiday season.
“We are grateful to have this holiday tree donated to the community,” said Ben Heistein, parks superintendent for the City of Watsonville. “It is especially nice to receive a living tree that we will plant in a local park after the holiday season for many generations to enjoy.”
On Sunday, Dec. 3, the community is invited to celebrate the holiday season at the Plaza. The festivities begin at 2 p.m. with the Watsonville Multicultural Celebration, featuring activity booths for children hosted by local cultural groups, food booths from different cultures and live entertainment on two stages.
Santa Claus will arrive at 4 p.m.
Following the Watsonville Multicultural Celebration at 5 p.m., the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin. The ceremony will feature a welcome from the Watsonville mayor, a performance by a local children’s choir, and will culminate in the lighting of the holiday tree.
A new addition to the festivities this year will be a train that will offer children rides around the Plaza.
“We have partnered with local businesses and organizations to include this magical holiday train to the event so children remember the spirit of the holidays in our wonderful downtown,” said June Ponce, a community member who helped arrange for the train to be a part of the event.
Rides on the train are free, but donations to Second Harvest Food Bank will be accepted at the train station and are encouraged.
