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View Winners → Thousands attend Azusa’s Festival of Lights
San Gabriel Valley Dec 09, 2024
An aerial view of the 2024 Festival of Lights. | Photo courtesy of the city of Azusa
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More than 3,000 people attended the Azusa Festival of Lights on Saturday for an evening of holiday cheer, a toy giveaway and tree lighting ceremony.
The Community Resources Department organized the festival at the Azusa Civic Center from 4 to 8 p.m., according to a city statement. The toy giveaway featured more than 1,000 toys that went to local children.
“The Festival of Lights is an Azusa tradition that truly unites the community in the spirit of the holidays,” Mayor Robert Gonzales said in a statement. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this event’s success, and we thank our residents for their enthusiastic support. This year was particularly special, as we expanded the festivities to encompass the entire Civic Center, offering even more fun and activities for everyone to enjoy.”
Several themed zones at the festival included the North Pole, Whoville, Inflatable Row, Ice Village and Winter Wonderland. Attendees could visit Whoville to meet the Grinch or craft holiday creations at Santa’s Workshop. Live music and performances at the Nutcracker Stage & Courtyard added an artful atmosphere, along with featured games, food, hot cocoa, the children’s gift giveaway and an appearance by Santa Claus.
“There was even a sighting of the Grinch, causing problems with Santa,” city officials said. “But the Azusa Police Department quickly took the Grinch away!”
Highlights of the holiday festival Included:
- North Pole: photos with Santa, toy giveaways, and reindeer races;
- Santa’s Workshop: kids’ holiday crafts, face painting and information booths;
- Nutcracker Stage & Courtyard: performances by local groups and artists;
- Whoville: “a meet-and-greet with the one and only Mr. Grinch,” officials said;
- Winter Wonderland: snow play and train rides on the Polar Express; and
- Ice Village: ice skating, food and a chance to meet characters from the Disney musical “Frozen.”
The children’s gift giveaway was supported by donations from Cruising Back 2 Route 66 with Louie Gomez and Lavonne Moralez, local organizations and sports teams, the Azusa Rotary Club and the Azusa Police Department, officials said.
More information is online at AzusaCA.gov.
