The Gaslamp Quarter Association and Gaslamp Historical Foundation are getting a head start on the holiday season, hosting two events on Nov. 7 to attract residents and visitors to the area and get them in the holiday spirit. Sunday’s celebrations begin at 11 a.m. with the 10th annual Fall Back Festival, a free Children’s Historic Street Faire, hosted by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. The festival aims to engage children in fun events while also educating them about the rich history of San Diego and life in the 1800s. In addition to pie and ice cream eating contests, it will feature educational demonstrations. “This is really one of the only free kids’ festivals that is dedicated to education and to enriching kids’ lives,” said Natalie Gomez, director of public relations at McFarlane Promotions. “We do a lot of events at McFarlane but this is just so different, you really get to see the kids smiling.” While previous Fall Back Festivals have had admission fees, this year the Historical Foundation will rely mostly on the donations of festival-goers. The event is free to the public, but individuals can choose to buy tickets that will admit them into other activities such as pony rides, carriage rides and gold panning. All proceeds will assist in the preservation of the history of the Gaslamp Quarter. “We want people to see these museums and to learn,” Gomez said. “There are a lot of free things to do but then you can also take it to the next level and buy a ticket.” Following the Fall Back Festival, the Gaslamp Quarter Association will kick off its annual Gaslamp for the Holidays events with the lighting of the Gaslamp Quarter at 5 p.m. Families are invited to see the district illuminated with what adds up to more than seven miles of Christmas lights. More than 100 trees will be lit on Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets between Broadway Street and Island Avenue. “We thought it would be a nice little amenity — right as the [Fallback] festival is coming to an end to light up the Gaslamp Quarter,” said Brandy Shimabukuro, manager of the Gaslamp Quarter Association’s marketing and public relations. “It will be a great, warm moment for families who are visiting the festival.” Lighting for the Gaslamp is being furnished by The Christmas Light Company-San Diego Inc., which has been a part of the event for the past three years. After 1,500 hours of work by the company, the Gaslamp Quarter will be brightened with more than 200,000 lights. This year, they are using LED lighting, which requires only 5 percent of the energy of traditional lights and reduces greenhouse emissions by more than 90 percent. “We are proud to be a part of the Gaslamp holiday lighting,” said company president Jim Sciandra. “This event not only brings holiday spirit and festivity to the Quarter but also brings dollars to our local economy in the form of foot traffic, tourism and the desire to be out and about.” Lights in the Gaslamp Quarter will be up from 5 p.m. to midnight, through Jan. 3.