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Forecast for Christmas season: Fun
Everything from snow tubing & skating to having fun at Santas place
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Santas workshop at Bass Pro Shops at The promenade Shops in Orchard Valley at Union Road and Highway 120 has become a Manteca tradition. - photo by HIME ROMERO

The forecast for the Christmas season calls for snow and ice in Lathrop and unique traditions in Manteca such as a wild game feed all the way to Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops to the oldest running twilight holiday parade in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

There’s a new twist to the 42nd annual Manteca Chamber of Commerce twilight holiday parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, starting at 5 p.m. in downtown Manteca.

The chamber is staging its first holiday  street fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the same day on South Grant Street between East Yosemite Avenue and Moffat Boulevard. It is strategically placed at the midway point on the Yosemite Avenue parade route that starts at Library Park and goes to Garfield Avenue by Manteca High.

The street fair already has 30 vendors offering everything from crafts ad commercial items to non-profits and food booths. Perennial street fair favorite Lockeford Sausage is among those already committed.

Santa has already settled into Bass Pro Shops complete with free crafts for kids including a free 4x6 studio quality photograph of kids with Santa.

Holidays on the Farm at Dell’Osso Farms in Lathrop at Interstate 5 and Manthey Road offers everything from snow tubing on artificial snow and ice skating to a mile-long drive-thru light show featuring hundreds of holiday scenes.

The fun all starts on Saturday Dec. 6, and runs through Jan. 3.

 The tubing is $20 for a 90-minute session that starts every two hours. An on-line reservation (www.holidaysonthefarm.com )  is advised as there are limited slots available for drop-in tubers.

Ice skating is also available. Friday through Sunday prices are $14 with skates for those 8 and older and $12 for those younger. It is $2 less on other days.  

There’s a bunch of free things to do whether it is browsing the general store where kids can tell Santa their Christmas wishes while sitting with him in an old-fashioned sleigh or taking photos of kids sticking their heads through Christmas artwork with the faces cut out.

Zip lines will be open at $7 a ride or two for $12. 

The 500 light scenes can be accessed by a hay ride that includes blankets at $6 per person, driving through it in a car for $10 or weekends for $12 or via the Dell’Osso Express for $3.50  per person.

There are also selling Christmas trees.

Other activities in Manteca & Lathrop include:

 

THURSDAY, DEC. 4

MANTECA TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: The free Manteca Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place in front of the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 p.m. Afterwards, Santa will participate I free family activities at the Manteca Senior Center right around the corner at 295 Cherry Lane. For more information contact the Ripon Chamber of Commerce at 209.458.8850.

WINTER WONDERLAND: The Commons at Union Ranch (2241 N. Union Road) invites you to Winter Wonderland Grand Reopening and High Tea on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 4:30 p.m. There will be free sweet treats and savory appetizers, a raffle, professional Christmas carolers, a live harpist and a wonderful performance by the Del Webb Choir. Please RSVP at 209.463.9100 by Nov. 28. 

 

HOSPICE TREE LIGHTING: The Hospice of San Joaquin tree lighting takes place on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at Doctors Hospital of Manteca at the corner of North Street and Cottage Ave.

 

FRIDAY, DEC. 5

WILD GAME FEED: Costa’s annual Wild Game Feed & Holiday Benefit Party is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Manteca Trailer & Motorhome, at East Yosemite and Vasconcellos avenues. Come have the experience of a lifetime, feasting on fish, deer, elk, wild pig, bear or other assorted game. There will be lots of home-made side dishes. There is no admission fee but your donation is needed. All proceeds go to help families in the community and no amount is too small to help. If you can’t come but are willing to help out, send your check to P.O.BOX 2036, Manteca CA 95336. Checks can be made out to Costa’s Automotive with Game Feed noted in the memo. For more information call Jim or Jesse at 209.823.0781 or 209.823.6414.

 

SATURDAY, DEC. 6

PANCAKES WITH SANTA & MRS. CLAUS: The Valley Community Presbyterian Women’s annual Pancakes with Santa & Mrs. Claus takes place Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the church at North and Main streets. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Pictures with Santa are available as well as crafts to purchase. Tickets will be for sale at the door.

 

SATURDAY, DEC. 6

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Manteca Senior Center is hosting the annual Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. Tickets are now on sale at the Senior Center for $6 per person. Children’s tickets include: one photo with Santa, candy and toy from Santa and an art project. Adult and Child tickets include a breakfast menu of pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and milk. Only 125 children’s tickets will be sold. Tickets are available at the senior center front desk.