With December underway, it’s time to officially start celebrating the holiday season! By this time, everyone has already started decorating their home with twinkling lights, enjoying a nice hot cocoa by a crackling fireplace, and wearing the matching pajama pants! Downtown Chula Vista has also begun ringing in the holiday season by hosting events that embody the real meaning of the holidays: spending time with those you love.
Small Business
Season
Though Small Business Season has already begun last month, it’s never too late to shop small! Throughout the whole month of December, make sure that you stop by the many businesses around the South Bay neighborhood or visit the Third Avenue Village Market to not only get your loved ones those last-minute goodies for their stockings but to also support the businesses in your community. From local clothing, jewelry and specialty shops, anything you’re looking for can be found in Downtown Chula Vista!
Give back to your community by shopping at your local businesses so that you know you’re directly contributing your money back into your community as well as getting to put faces to the names of the business owners around the neighborhood. Plus, you can get nice deals from participating businesses so you can shop for the perfect gifts for all your friends and family if you’re running on a tight schedule and budget.
While you’re hopping around from shop to shop, you’ll most likely get the urge for a tasty snack! So, stop by and say hello to the friendly faces at Mmm… Cakes! As an established dessert and coffee spot of Downtown Chula Vista, Mmm… Cakes! Is determined to give anyone who walks in a unique and tasteful experience. Along with their classic dessert such as the Cheesecake and the Tiramisu, they also serve seasonal delicacies that you’ll have to go in to see what it is! Whatever pastry you choose to indulge yourself in, you can pair it with one of their many coffee and drink options. From a cold Caramel Macchiato to a Blanches Beauty Elixir smoothie, Mmm… Cakes has any drink you could crave to re-energize yourself when you continue shopping.
Starlight Nights
Not only is neighborhood celebrating small business season, but Downtown Chula Vista is also has also been thrilled to show its holiday cheer by hosting one of the first celebrations of the festive season. Starlight Nights, held on Sunday, December 4th from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., ignited the holiday spark in everyone as they spent an evening gathered in community. The event included an array of magical activities such as a holiday market, a ride on Santa’s Holiday Train, free family photos with Santa, live music from the Memorial Park’s main stage, and a special tree lighting ceremony. Members of the community were encouraged to invite family, friends, and visitors from far and wide for an evening they won’t forget!
There were many fun activities for the little elves such as hopping on a Santa’s Holiday
Train for a spin around Downtown Chula Vista, jamming out to live music from the main stage in Memorial Park, and keeping up with the tradition of taking official holiday photos with Santa himself for free. Santa’s mailroom was also officially opened. Kids were able stop by the craft station near Santa’s Mailbox to create their magical letters to Santa during the event. Santa is ready to read it all; from stories of what you’ve been up to this past year, funny jokes you’d like to tell him or even just a cute picture, Santa will appreciate it all. Aside from catching up with ole’ Santa, the kids were also able to squeeze in their Christmas list of all the things they’re excited to get this year!
Along with the festive activities for the little ones, there was also a special Holiday Market, curated by the Third Avenue Village Market and Las Jefas Market, where there was a variety of vendors out there to help you find the perfect holiday gifts for all your loved ones.
Starlight Nights couldn’t officially ring in the holidays without an official tree lighting ceremony which was sure to be a twinkle in your eyes when you saw the magical tree! Beginning promptly at 5:45 p.m., Mayor Salas, of the City of Chula Vista, and the Downtown Chula Vista Association dignitaries held a countdown and officially kick-of the holiday season in Downtown Chula Vista as they pull of the lighting lever and illuminate the new 20’ multicolor pine tree.
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