OAKHURST — Hoards of happy people descended on the Talking Bear corner of Highway 41 and Road 426 in Oakhurst last Saturday night, as the community Christmas tree was lit amidst tremendous excitement.
Century 21 Ditton Realty‘s own Belinda Ditton says somewhere between 1,500 to 2,000 people came out and that both the upper and lower parking areas stayed full all evening. She cites a long list of people, organizations and businesses whose efforts made the event come alive.
Photos in this article by Steve Montalto, Visit Yosemite Madera County. Click to enlarge.
Performing on stage, with screen and sound set-up compliments of Brian Casey at ComTech, were talented singers and dancers from the Yosemite High School Choir, Golden Chain Theater, Yosemite Dance Company and Vision Academy.
Kids were able to spend time moving from bounce house to crafts including rock painting, and get their faces painted along the way.
Among the highlights of the evening was the arrival of Santa Claus to great fanfare, with honking and sirens appropriate to the presence of such a giver.
“Santa arrived on CAL FIRE Engine 12 accompanied by Northstar’s tow trucks decorated with lights,” says Sierra Tel’s Laura Norman. “Santa was greeted by Mrs. Claus on the sidewalk and escorted to his seat on the Dittons’ porch. Mrs. Claus provided each child a candy cane and Santa gave each a toy after hearing their wishes.”
All children at the event received two books from Sierra Tel, Laura adds, thanking students from Yosemite High for taking care of the distribution. The community is also grateful to the YHS Cadet Corps for heloing to keep the Santa line under control while Carrie Jenkins took complimentary photos.
Yosemite High student PJ Kuzmitski had the honor of flipping the switch to light the tree this year.
Belinda Ditton says special thanks go out to:
Visit Yosemite Madera County, Sierra Tel, McGoldrick & McGoldrick, ComTech, Yosemite Ranch, Dr. Rodney Peter, Crabcakes, Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls, Robert Guerrero of Farmers Insurance, Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst, Yosemite High Football Boosters, Oak Creek Intermediate, YHS Cadet Corp, Cal Fire, Northstar Towing, Jim Elliott of the Children’s Museum of the Sierra, Oakhurst Sierra Rotary, Carrie Jenkins of A Moment in Time Photography, Lynn and Julie Fulmer.
