It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
The holiday season in the San Fernando Valley and in communities throughout the region is underway.
From tree lightings to parades and toy giveaways, the annual holiday events have gone smoothly. The celebrations have offered some ease and a change of atmosphere during a time when local communities have been targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As a result, in many cases, families have been separated and will not spend the Christmas season together. The frequent presence of ICE gave the organizers some pause, but they all went forward.
There were three days of tree lighting events in the Northeast Valley beginning in Pacoima on Dec. 4, held at the local City Hall, then in Sylmar the day after. The City of San Fernando held its event on Saturday, Dec. 6 – but the lights weren’t any less bright.
It didn’t seem that way at first, as most of the lights in the San Fernando Mall were turned off at the start of the event. But after opening remarks from City of San Fernando officials and Santa Claus arriving in a classic 1950s police cruiser, the lights beamed along San Fernando Road.
San Fernando’s monthly outdoor market, which usually accompanies the annual Tree Lighting, came to an end earlier this year, but there were still plenty of booths selling merchandise to the festivalgoers, and several local businesses remained open throughout the night. There were also plenty of live performances on stage at the center of the mall, from dancers to choirs singing classic holiday songs.
Meanwhile, at the historic Casa de Lopez Adobe, families waited in line to take a photo with old Saint Nick. And although snow doesn’t fall here in the valley, it didn’t stop kids and their families from pretending it was a White Christmas when soapy bubbles were shot in the air, mimicking the appearance of snow.
While these events in the Northeast Valley have been long established, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, the first annual Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at the Van Nuys Civic Center. At this event, local representatives spoke of the“renewal” that will come to the corridor with the construction of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project by LA Metro.
Parades Come to Town
Granada Hills had its 42nd annual holiday parade on Sunday, Dec. 7, but it also doubled as a centennial celebration of the community’s founding. There were more than 100 entries in the parade, which focused on the theme of the Roaring Twenties.
In addition to folklorico dancers and charros with their prancing horses, the parade featured participants in 1920s-era clothing and vehicles. A few floats even focused on political issues of the time, like the women’s suffrage movement.
The grand marshal for the parade was John Elway Jr., a Hall of Famer in the National Football League (NFL) and two-time Super Bowl champion for the Denver Broncos.
The parade began at the intersection of Chatsworth Street and Balboa Avenue and traveled west toward Zelzah Avenue, ending at Granada Hills Charter High School – where Elway Jr. played both varsity football and baseball.
Don’t worry if you missed this parade, as the 58th annual Pacoima Christmas parade will be held this Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Van Nuys Boulevard. An opening ceremony will be held right outside Pacoima City Hall.
Free Toys
In partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Mission Division, Councilmember Imelda Padilla hosted the third annual Miracle in Mission holiday celebration on Dec. 6 at the Sepulveda Recreation Center in Panorama City, giving away free toys to low-income families.
The event has continued to grow over the years, and organizers said they distributed more than 10,000 toys.
Padilla emphasized that Miracle in Mission is not only a festive gathering but an opportunity to foster unity and make a positive impact for families across the district.
“Miracle in Mission is one of the most joyful traditions in our district, reflecting the very best of who we are,” Padilla said. “For many of our valley families, the holidays can be an especially tough time, and creating safe, joyful spaces where youth feel seen, celebrated and supported is more important than ever. …This event is about uplifting our community and honoring a tradition that brings us together.”
There were plenty of family-friendly activities, including a petting zoo, a meet-and-greet with Santa, a children’s arts and crafts table, as well as a raffle giveaway and resource fair.