The annual Festival of Lights tree lighting took place Friday night in downtown Turlock, with thousands revelers milling about Main Street for the official kickoff to the Christmas season.
Musicians filled the air with music, while nearly 200 vendors sold everything from stuffed toys to brick-oven pizzas.
Turlock native Will Magni, who graduated from Central Catholic High School in Modesto last year and now attends San Diego State, came home for the Thanksgiving break and decided to make the tree-lighting ceremony part of his visit.
“We’ve come here ever since they started doing this,” said Magni, who was accompanied by girlfriend Czyleah Pabustan. “Right now, I’m headed over to watch my sister perform on the stage.”
Turlock’s Zach Hollis was happy to spend some quality time with his family.
“It’s just a nice little event that’s outside,” said Hollis. “And it’s a way to support the community and to be a part of it. To see so many vendors out, it just seems like things are moving in the right direction for the community.”
Patty Frahm attended at the behest of granddaughters Ruby and Nettle.
“My granddaughters wanted to come and see what this is all about,” said Frahm. “We just got here, but the music, the lights, the smells have been my favorite part.”
Turlock High English teacher Christopher Beebout, a new resident of Turlock despite having taught at the school for 18 years, has incorporated the event into his family’s holiday traditions.
“We just wanted to see the tree lighting and the snow,” said Beebout, accompanied by wife Ashley, 10-year-old son Sullivan, and daughter Hazel, 7. “This is our second year living in Turlock, and it’s a fun community event. Everybody’s out here celebrating and having a good time.”
On a chilly evening, with temperatures dipping into the 40s, the crowd gathered in Central Park grew antsy while waiting an extra 20 minutes for the official lighting to take place. An impromptu chant of “Light that tree! Light that tree!” rang out moments before the lights were finally turned on.
The crowed was treated to a drone show, with holiday images filling the sky, to conclude the evening.
The holiday festivities will continue on Dec. 5 with the 46th annual Turlock Downtown Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is Gingerbread Dreamland.
The parade will start at 6:30 p.m. and start at E. Main Street and Canal Drive and make its way west down Main Street and then turn north on Broadway towards the fairgrounds.
The parade will feature dozens of lighted entries from local businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.
