The Night of Holiday Lights in San Carlos kicks off the winter holidays with its 12th annual festival.
Every year, San Carlos hosts the Night of Holiday Lights, which has family-fun activities, vendor booths, food and drinks, music, and most importantly, the holiday show, lights, and snow.
Families have been coming to this event since it first premiered in 2010. They also state that they will continue to come each year to have fun as a family.
Not only that, but like many other community events, the Night of Holiday Lights allows small businesses and local groups to promote themselves and spread happiness.
Local groups like the Carlmont Jazz Band come out to this event to play music for the city.
“We want to spread the joy of music during the holiday season,” said senior Lucas Fedronic.
We want to spread the joy of music during the holiday season.
— Lucas Fedronic
Community events also allow small businesses to promote themselves.
Ana ‘N Shy is a small business run by two sisters since they were 6 and 10 years old. They hand-make gifts and half of their profit goes to charities.
According to their statements and their website, they started the business five years ago after hearing about the animals who lost their home to the wildfires. Ever since they have continued to donate their profits to different charities.
They set up a booth at the Night of Holiday Lights to promote what they do.
The Night of Holiday Lights is also a great family event that brings joy and truly the holiday spirit.
The Helwig Family expresses their feelings about this event.
“It’s fun to be here for the lighting. You feel like you’re kicking off the holiday,” said Suzanne Helwig.
The fake snow, which is made from soap, also gives people joy.
“I think [the snow] is pretty cool,” said Annaliesse Helwig. “You feel really happy.”
The festival encompasses the feelings of winter holidays in the eyes of the citizens.
“It’s the Christmas Spirit,” said Travis Helwig.
Additionally, this event isn’t exclusively for the kids to enjoy.
“I like to say that I’m doing it for my kids, but I actually get a lot out of it,” Suzanne Helwig said.
Some residents are disappointed that San Carlos doesn’t have a tree downtown to light, but they also believe that it does not really need one.
It doesn’t matter that there’s not a tree, it’s still really fun.
— Molly Nguyen
“I think it’s a little sad we don’t have a big tree downtown to light, but I think it’s more fun to have the festival here then around the tree next to City Hall,” said local resident Molly Nguyen. “In the 11 years we’ve been coming to it, it doesn’t matter that there’s not a tree, it’s still really fun.”
In the past, San Carlos used to light up a tree in the lot where the dog park is now. However, they moved it after the city decided to turn the lot into what it is now, according to Wendy Schettino, the supervisor of all San Carlos events.
Now, the city adds new lights every year and turns them on about an hour to an hour and a half after the start of the event, marking the start of the winter holiday season. The city plans to keep on continuing this festival.
“We are always here with some sort of friend or family and so it feels traditional and happy, and we will likely be here every year,” Nguyen said.
