Festive evening to launch SV Christmas season

There’ll be a whole new look to the kickoff of Christmas season in Scotts Valley.
In addition to the community’s usual tree-lighting ceremony, there will be music, entertainment, food and family activities all evening. The festivities replace the traditional Holiday Lights Cruise.
The 21st annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, will start at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Scotts Valley Community Center.
Vine Hill Service Club members will greet visitors and honor the flag along with local Boy Scouts. Christmas caroling will be led by Gateway Bible Church singers, and the Scotts Valley High School Chorale, Vine Hill Service Club and others also will sing.
Additional entertainment will be provided by Scotts Valley Performing Arts. Cheerleaders from Scotts Valley Middle School will be on hand to help welcome Santa as he arrives in a Scotts Valley fire engine.
When the tree is lighted, the big redwood at Kings Village Shopping Center also will light up.
From 6:30 to 9 p.m., the Community Center, Scotts Valley Senior Center and Scotts Valley Sports Center will be hubs of activity.
Two sessions of family holiday ice skating will happen at 6:30 and 8 p.m. at the Sports Center.
Santa will stay at the Community Center for photos. There also will be a barbecue and craft projects.  
The Senior Center will be a showcase of decorated Christmas trees and wreaths to be raffled. Desserts also will be served.
Carolers will entertain as participants walk between the events. Outdoors also is the locale of the Poker Walk, replacing the Poker Run from the Cruise.
Price of admission to each event is counted in cans of donated food since the festival is a fundraiser for Valley Churches United Missions. There will be stations throughout the festival to collect canned foods.
Details, including number of cans for admission, are available from the city Recreation Division at 438-3251 or www.scottsvalleychamber.com.
Participating organizations include Scotts Valley Exchange Club, Moose Lodge, Scotts Valley Host Lions, Scotts Valley Rotary, Scotts Valley Kiwanis and Scotts Valley Advocates.