Plaza decoration begins; tree lighting set for Nov. 24
WATSONVILLE—Downtown Watsonville was bustling with activity Tuesday morning as a 30-foot Blue Spruce arrived, carefully wrapped and attached to the back of a large tow truck.
Workers from Auto Care Towing meticulously attached ropes and pulleys to the tree before hoisting it up and maneuvering it to its new home in Watsonville Plaza.
The tree weighs about 14,000 pounds and was grown at Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy for the sole purpose of being a Christmas tree, said Marty Corley, a friend of the anonymous donor who has gifted a tree to the city for the past six years.
“I think it means a lot to people, having a tree here,” Corley said. “And it’s been a great way to bring the community together, to invite them back to downtown.”
Ben Heistein, assistant director of the City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services department, was also present on Tuesday, organizing city employees to help decorate the rest of the plaza in holiday lights.
The city’s annual tree lighting ceremony will take place during Holiday in the Plaza, which is scheduled for Nov. 24. from 1-7 p.m. The event will include Snow Day, the annual holiday train and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus.
“It’s a bit early this year… but we hope everyone will come out to enjoy it anyway,” Heistein said. “It’s a great tradition.”
