Mild Evening Draws Sizable Crowd to Holiday Tree Lighting
By Carolyn Schuk
Comfortable temperatures and clear weather drew nearly 1,000 to kick-off the holiday season at Santa Clara's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony last Friday night. The honor of lighting this year’s tree went to Ann Tacchino, a long-time Senior Center Volunteer and former Senior Advisory Commissioner.
As always, Silicon Valley Power escorted Teddy, the bear that has crowned the city’s Christmas tree most years since 1911, to his post. Teddy will preside over the 2008 holiday season from his perch atop the stately 75-foot Colorado blue spruce in City Hall Park.
Presented by the city’s Senior Advisory Commission, the evening offered plenty to enjoy: Face painting, sweet treats, holiday musical favorites from the renowned Déjà Vu jazz band and Déjà Vu Too vocalists, and, of course, a visit from Santa with treats for the little ones.
This year Santa came to town in an antique-reproduction carriage drawn by 11-year-old Black Percheron stallion, Nick, his mane in a special show braid and decked out in an elegant parade harness for the occasion.
Santa's horse-drawn carriage was generously provided by Santa Clara firefighter Matt Conner, who owns several Percheron horses and offers holiday carriage rides that raise money for the Humane Society. Conner received Santa Clara's first-ever business license for a horse-drawn carriage business.
A Santa Clara native whose grandparents had horses, Conner's interest in the stately draught horses was sparked by seeing them on a visit to Disneyland. "I just like them – they're different," he says. "The Fire Department used Percherons back in the day."
With a large crowd, the line to see Santa was long. But no one let the wait spoil the good time.
Lily, a budding jitterbug queen who says she's "almost three," was too busy enjoying Déjà Vu's music to take time out to answer questions about what she wanted for Christmas. Ten year-old Hagen also enjoyed the music, saying that the most fun he had that evening was "the time Mom and me were dancing."
When asked about his Christmas wishes, the young man observed that, "Christmas is about love, not giving and receiving." However, he added that he wouldn’t be averse to seeing an "RC Boeing Chinook" remote control helicopter and an iPod Nano under the tree on December 25.
Take a Ride in a Horse-Drawn Carriage
If you'd like to take a ride in Matt Conner's horse-draw carriage, you're in luck. On Sunday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 20, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. – weather permitting – Conner will be conducting carriage rides in Santa Clara.
Rides cost $5 for children under eight and $8 for adults, and begin at 375 Los Padres Blvd. (across from Alvarez park), home of the Cassidy family, 10-time winners of the City's holiday decorations contest. After the ride, you can enjoy hot chocolate and the Cassidy's 50,000-light display, which includes animated scenes and a synchronized light show to Christmas music.
After doing carriage rides in Santana Row for several years, Conner recently added the Santa Clara location. "We wanted to do something for Santa Clara," he explains. "The Cassidys are just great," he says. "I love doing it."
For more information about Matt Conner's Redwood Mountain Percherons, email fireman1mc@aol.com or call (408) 410-6052. Carolyn Schuk can be reached at cschuk@earthlink.net.
