DANNY MENKENS | business manager

With snow, carriage rides, and Santa, the city of Azusa got in the holiday spirit and ready for Christmas.

On Sunday, at the lawn in front of City Hall, the annual Winter Holiday Fiesta and Christmas Tree Lighting took place. Starting at noon and going until 7 p.m., the residents of Azusa had a real holiday treat.

The entertainment began at noon with live holiday concerts including the Aztec singers, the Heritage Singers, and the Mariachi Juvenil Camino Real. The Kings Kids, West Coast Knights, and Central Middle School Cheer squad were also present.

On the west side of City Hall, there were toboggan rides where the Azusa Park and Recreation Department brought in ice blocks and crushed them up, thus turning them into snow.

There were also vendors who sold Christmas presents such as fleece blankets, authentic Mexican figurines, handmade purses and clothes. One particular vendor sold authentic Mexican figurines and dolls handmade from clay and cornhusk.

“We still have strong connections to our hometown Mazatlan, where the dolls are made by my family members who decided to stay in Mexico. My wife and I decided to move to Covina many years ago, but we still wanted to be part of the family business,” Claudio Beltran said. “We recently sold our store in West Covina that sold the authentic Mexican figurines that my family made. We still, however, own part of my family’s warehouse that makes these dolls.”

At 5 p.m. Santa Claus showed up. He arrived on his red fire engine, which was driven by his reindeers, also known as the City of Azusa Station 32 Firefighters. When he arrived, all the children ran over to him and started asking him for presents. Some children asked for iPods, iPod accessories, and laptops, while other children asked him for toys. One child simply asked for anything.

Most of the people at the fiesta were residents of Azusa who had younger children. Amongsts the Azusa residents, were Azusa Pacific students.

“For the people and the city of Azusa, I feel that today was meant to show the holiday spirit and cheer. It was meant for the kids of Azusa to see Santa, play with snow, and have some fun. It really made me ready for Christmas. I even bought some presents for my family!” sophomore liberal studies major Sarah Larson said.

At 5:30 p.m. Santa got everuones attention and counted down, for the tree lighting.

“I had a great and fun time. However, it is definitely geared for a much younger age group than me,” sophomore applied health major Joel Hehn said. “The tree was pretty with its lights on, but I think I have more lights on my Mod than that tree.”

The Winter Family Fiesta and Christmas Tree Lighting happens annually on the first Sunday in December, weather permitting, and is put on by the City of Azusa and the Recreation and Family Services Department.

This year, the fiesta was sponsored by Café D’Amore, Azusa Light and Water Department, the Azusa Redevelopment Agency, and the Azusa Youth Program.
“Over all, I had high expectations and I was very excited to come to the Winter Family Fiesta and Christmas Tree Lighting,” Hehn said. “My expectations were fulfilled and I will probably go next year.”