With the flick of a switch, Laurel Street burst into its first glow of the winter season, marking the return of the 15th annual Night of Holiday Lights on Dec. 5.
Strings of golden lights could be seen curled around trees, each strand guiding visitors toward a stage framed by inflatable snowmen and candy canes, where singers lit up the crowd dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves, while children joyously tumbled and spun in the year’s first flurry of artificial snow below.
Lauren Burd is the recreation supervisor for special events in San Carlos and also a longtime resident, which has given her a front-row seat to how much the celebration has grown over the years.
“When I was little, our big city holiday was that we would go to City Hall Park, way before it was a dog park, and drink hot chocolate and watch its big tree light. And that was kind of it; we’re very happy, and this is festive,” Burd said. “So Night of Holiday Lights has really, really expanded, even just in the last couple of years. More residents tend to stay later, whether that means they’re going out to dinner after they party with us for a little bit, or stay in the street and dance to the band, which a lot of residents did today.”
Stretching from San Carlos Avenue to Cherry Street and lasting three-and-a-half hours, this year’s celebration brought back many of the community’s favorite traditions and made a few new ones, too.
“The purpose of Night of Holiday Lights is really just community engagement. We want to make sure it’s inclusive, and that it’s fun for everybody of all ages, especially since it’s kind of the last event for the year,” Burd said.
Residents crowded around the main stage as the local band The Love Handles performed holiday classics, while children could be spotted lined up for carnival rides, from flying swings to a giant hanging pirate ship, a clear favorite of the evening.
For those seeking a break from the action, local groups along the closed-off streets staffed booths offering food or handmade gifts for purchase, interspersed with arts-and-crafts stations where children could create festive keepsakes like paper crowns and holiday chains to take home or gift to loved ones.
“The crowd is always great at Night of Holiday Lights, but to see everybody stay downtown the way that they did this past year was so nice to see,” Burd said. “We had so many families stay all night. I have this fantastic video of families jumping up and down when the snow was coming. The whole thing is always so nice.”
But beyond the miles of twinkling bulbs, bright ornaments, and other festive displays, the light-lighting celebration serves another purpose.
A beloved local tradition, it’s also a deliberate effort to spotlight the small businesses and local restaurants that anchor the streets of downtown San Carlos. At the peak of the busiest shopping of the year, when it’s easy to turn to mainstream chain stores or online platforms for gifts, the event aims to remind residents of the value in keeping holiday spending close to home.
“We have a lot of really vibrant businesses downtown. We are kind of unique in that way in San Carlos by having so many different types; we have boutiques, we have restaurants, and just really interesting stores,” Burd said. “So we hope the event is helpful. I’ve had a couple of businesses specifically mention that they really try to take advantage of the crowds, and we would love for everyone to do that.”
And the effort proved resoundingly successful. Families could be seen weaving in, out, and between pop-up tents and storefronts, many bearing freshly purchased goods and gifts.
“San Carlos always really shows up in their community, so I’m not surprised that there are a lot of people down here, but it’s been really great. It’s great seeing people who’ve bought from me before, and all the other customers here,” said Colleen Haddock, the owner of Transformative Glass, which sells fused glass products.
Anaiya Gupta, who has sold her work at the event multiple times, shares a similar appreciation for the impressive turnout.
“The people who come to shop at these events really value small businesses and the work that it takes to make these products and to come up here and sell, and it’s just really nice when people are super excited to see what you do,” Gupta said.
Night of Holiday Lights not only illuminated the city with festive cheer but also showcased the often-overlooked avenue of creativity in its downtown small businesses. As families left with gifts in hand, memories made, and a renewed sense of community connection, they were reminded again of why the celebration has become such a cherished annual event.
“Between bigger group attendings, the centennial birthday party, and all kinds of exciting events this past year, Night of Holiday Lights is one that kind of does market itself,” Burd said. “It’s a really lovely time for families, for friends, and for people to gather, and for us, it’s just a perfect cap on the year. We’re very happy that everybody liked it so much. We’ve heard a lot of good things.”
