Rotary Club of Santa Maria moves forward with Christmas Festival of Lights after parade cancellation

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - For businesses all over town, the cancellation of this year’s Santa Maria Parade of Lights was a blow.

"Well it was horrible for one it was her favorite event of the year … and
second we already had 60 vendors that committed to the event that we said
yes to … that we had to go back and say no to," said coordinator Ed Carcarey of the Christmas Festival of Lights.

Owner Alisha Muller of Inspirational Art Center was stunned by the decision.

"Oh no! Hahahaha. Pretty much. I found out through a friend of mine … and
she let me know and she was like wait a minute … shouldn’t we have signed
up … and I said yeah we were actually going to sign up this week … and
she’s like they actually canceled it," said Muller.

But the Chritmas Festival of Lights is still a go at Town Center West on December 4th.

Muller feels relieved.

"It really keeps our business going to be able to be a part of the community
and to be able to reach the community through a lot of the events that are
available during like Christmas time," said Muller.

Her characters including Flash, Spider-Man and the Unicorn Fairy are excited.

"Huge ... again it’s our favorite event it’s Christmas time … you can’t beat
this to come out on a night A free event that’s happening in the downtown
it’s gonna be lit up like a Christmas tree … 60 vendors as Kid-zone ... English
and Spanish music on a professional stage ... food booths ... the works," said Carcarey.

There will also be Santa Sightings as well as free Christmas gifts to kids.

"We will be doing face paying so we will have a face painter … I will have
her characters out there taking pictures … just being part of the lights is
going to be exciting for us," said Muller.

Other businesses participating include Allan Hancock College, La Buena 105.1, Univision, Casa Bonita, and Friendly Smiles Dental Group, and dozens more.