Santa Maria Kicks Off 2025’s Christmas Community Celebration Weekend
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - This weekend’s Central Coast holiday celebrations start tonight.
At Santa Maria’s downtown Civic Center Plaza, everyone got a front row spot, especially on such a clear night.
“I had no idea how many people would be here,” says Santa Claus, who graciously dropped by the plaza Friday evening. “And there's a lot of people here and a lot of kids.”
Just moments after 5:00 Friday evening, the Civic Center in downtown Santa Maria ceremonially lit their giant Christmas tree once again, kicking off a weekend of holiday festivities for 2025.
“We have a lot coming up in the next couple of weeks,” says Dennis Smitherman, Santa Maria’s Parks and Recreation director. “Not only do we have the tree lighting and, of course, the big parade this weekend, we have Christmas at Machado Plaza coming up here next weekend, as well as the ‘Grinch-mas Fun Run.’ So there’s still time to register for that as well.”
The annual event welcomes the community out every year for hot cocoa and sweets to observe the moment when the tree glows to life.
“We have this great children's choir joining us and then we'll finish the evening with a great brass band cookies and hot chocolate for everyone,” says Smitherman.
And the rumors turned out to be true after all.
Santa arrived right on cue to the tune of Yuletide carols being sung by a choir.
“Just perfect for the Christmas holiday,” says Santa.
Santa Maria Recreation and Parks director Dennis Smitherman expressed his thanks for the city’s partnership with Elks Recreation and The Golden Circle for the yearly event.
“We're really kicking off the holidays here in Santa Maria,” says Smitherman. “Just a lot going on to really start and kick off the festivities.”
Over the weekend there are several holiday parades up and down the Central Coast including in SLO county, Orcutt, as well as Solvang’s Julefest parade.
Your news channel will be at Santa Maria’s Christmas Parade Of Lights Saturday evening.
You can watch it live on news channel 12 starting at 5:30!
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