Under a flurry of snowflakes, in the chill of the evening on Dec. 8, Santa, along with Mrs. Claus, arrived atop a Garden Grove fire truck, to be part of the annual tree-lighting festivities at Village Green Park.
There was a pre-show that included The HOPE Team, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove and The Ringing Saints from St. Paul's Lutheran School.
The HOPE Team began at 5:30 p.m., by singing Christmas carols along Historic Main Street and inside Restaurant Azteca, as the squad made its way to the park at Village Green.
Under a flurry of snowflakes, in the chill of the evening on Dec. 8, Santa, along with Mrs. Claus, arrived atop a Garden Grove fire truck, to be part of the annual tree-lighting festivities at Village Green Park.
There was a pre-show that included The HOPE Team, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove and The Ringing Saints from St. Paul's Lutheran School.
The HOPE Team began at 5:30 p.m., by singing Christmas carols along Historic Main Street and inside Restaurant Azteca, as the squad made its way to the park at Village Green.
Community Services Director Kim Huy was the emcee for the evening, introducing holiday entertainment that included Dance Innovation, directed by Shari Scott; Christ Cathedral Academy Advance Choir, directed by Quang Nguyen; the Colony of Performing Arts and 2014 Voice of Garden Grove Kang Lo; and a performance by Pacifica High's School choir.
The official tree lighting was by Mayor Bruce Broadwater and the Garden Grove City Council, along with former Councilman Andrew Do and Mayor-elect Bao Nguyen and Councilman-elect Phat Bui; State Senator Janet Nguyen was also represented.
This year's Christmas tree featured colorful lights and ornaments personalized by individuals, families, businesses and organizations in four bright, holiday-themed colors of blue, green, red and gold.
For next year's 10-by-10-inch customized ornament orders, which have to be in by the first week of November, call the office of Community Relations at 714-741-5280. The ornaments are a way to help sponsor the annual event.
"I’d like to thank all of you for joining us as we kick-off the holiday season, Garden Grove style," said Huy. "Before our program began, we were treated to holiday entertainment by the HOPE Team, from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove and the Ringing Saints from St. Paul's Lutheran School, which is led by Tara Maneafaiga. The HOPE Team includes 7th and 8th grade students," Huy said.
"The hand bell choir that performed tonight is under the direction of Laura Siegert and is made up of 5th through 8th grade students," Huy added. "The final performers are the Pacifica High School choir, under the direction of David Joseph."
Huy thanked the evening's sponsors that included the Garden Grove Community Foundation, which has for the past 16 years also sponsored the annual free summer concerts in the park and three years ago, started the singing competition known as, "The Voice of Garden Grove," where high school students can compete for a cash prize for themselves and their school choir.
Before the evening began, elves handed out programs; they were courtesy of the Colony of the Performing Arts, which also performed during the program.
Walmart Supercenter and Neighborhood Market hosted the "Frozen" hot cocoa station and the League of United Latin American Citizens provided tamales and flautas for sale, along with long-time sponsor Navdeep Bassi's 7-Eleven, which donates 3,000 cookies and toys for all of the children who visit Santa.
Huy thanked the Garden Grove Fire Department and Traffic Unit from the Garden Grove Police Department for delivering Santa and Mrs. Claus and thanked the performers for being part of the community event.
"Without our sponsors, this night would not be possible," Huy said. “On behalf of Mayor Bruce Broadwater and the Garden Grove City Council, have a very blessed holiday season.”
Village Green Park will remain lighted nightly through the month of December.
