It’s nine more days before the Christmas season officially kicks off in Manteca.
It starts with the long running community tree lighting as well as entertainment and activities for families and kids at the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., on Thursday, Dec. 2.
The tree lighting in front of the council chambers is at 6 p.m. It will feature music and entertainment. Attendees are invited to bring their own homemade ornaments to place on the tree.
The fun then moves to the civic center courtyard for entertainment and activities starting at 6:30 p.m.
The free event will feature arts and crafts, photos with Santa, old fashioned carnival games, music and entertainment, Christmas cards for soldiers, letters to Santa as well as cookies and hot chocolate.
The Dec. 2 events are being staged the Manteca Recreation & Community Services Division as well as the Manteca Senior Center.
Christmas in the
Promenade Dec. 4-5
The Manteca Chamber of Commerce is staging its holiday fair dubbed “Christmas in the Promenade” the prior weekend on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley at Union Road and Atherton Drive.
The two-day affair includes food trucks, a Christmas tree decorating competition, kiddie rides including pony rides, children’s activities, entertainment, craft and gift vendors, as well as photos with Santa.
Chamber Executive Director Joann Beattie indicated there are only a handful of vendor spaces left. Call (209) 823-6121 or email joann@manteca.org for more details.
Christmas parade Dec. 11
The event that has been the highlight of community-based Christmas celebrations for 49 years in Manteca — the downtown twilight parade — is taking place Saturday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m.
Entries are being sought for the parade that will travel down Yosemite Avenue from Library Park to Manteca High. This year’s theme is “All I Want for Christmas”.
The deadline to enter the parade is Dec. 1. There is a $50 entry fee for the event that has first place trophies and ribbons for second and third.
There are seven categories that each has a number of sub-categories. The categories are floats, musical units, twirling, visual marching, automobiles, novelties/miscellaneous, and equestrian.
The entry form can be downloaded from the chamber’s website at manteca.org.
Holiday Affair is Dec. 8
Those buying a $75 ticket to Manteca’s biggest holiday party — the Soroptimists’ 42nd annual Holiday Affair on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at the Bank of Stockton on North Main Street — will be getting more than an evening of light finger food and drinks for two, mingling with others, and a chance at a variety of prizes.
They also will be helping provide the gift of help — and in some cases life — for troubled teens.
It was 35 years ago that a cluster of teen suicides rocked the community. Four promising lives ended in a suicide pact.
The Soroptimists — a collection of business and professional women brought together by the drive to serve the community — stepped up. They made a significant donation to help Manteca Unified secure on-campus counselors from Valley Community Counseling Services.
Support of teen crisis counseling in Manteca schools has become the club’s marquee project. To date, they have contributed more than $360,000 to the effort. It has paid dividends in keeping teens from losing their lives when dark thoughts overwhelm them.
Tickets to the Holiday Affair that runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. are $75. Each ticket that admits the holder and one guest are available at Tipton’s Stationery and Gifts. 169 W. Yosemite Ave. (209-823-7644) or any Soroptimist member.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
