By Khalida Sarwari
Campbell’s signature holiday event is little more than a week away. The popular Carol of Lights festival will kick off the holiday season on Dec. 1, transforming downtown Campbell into a winter wonderland.
This year’s event will be a celebration for all ages, featuring an appearance from Santa, bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, musical entertainment, dance performances and a snow zone with real snow. The event, which is now in its 26th year, also has traditionally drawn Christmas carolers, street performers, horse-drawn sleigh rides and holiday displays.
At the center of the festivities will be a redwood tree near the Heritage Theatre and Campbell Community Center. The tree was grown from seedlings taken from another tree planted more than 100 years ago by President Theodore Roosevelt to commemorate visit to the city in 1903, according to the Carol of Lights committee. That tree stood on the corner of Winchester Boulevard and Campbell Avenue for more than 60 years before it was cut down in 1964 to make way for street expansion.
Carol of Lights is free and open to all. The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Campbell.
Carol of Lights is funded through a nonprofit committee that exists solely to produce and raise money for the annual event. Despite the event’s popularity, funding remains a challenge. The Carol of Lights committee, led by Campbell Express editor Sally Howe, relies on volunteer labor and private donations for its operations and is asking for donations from the community.
Donations can be made online at caroloflights.org/donations.php or by sending a check to the Campbell Express, 334 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008. Donations are tax-deductible.
Campbell Carol of Lights gets the holiday season officially under way
