By Chris Gomez | Little Italy News
Come out and deck the halls this holiday season in Little Italy as the neighborhood lights up the night at its annual Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village on Saturday, Dec. 5, on West Fir between India Street and Kettner Boulevard, from 4 – 8 p.m.
Families, friends, neighbors and visitors are invited to celebrate the season during this beloved Little Italy tradition and see our one-of-a-kind Christmas tree — a 25-foot tower of over 1,100 lush poinsettias and 2,000 LED lights in the center of Piazza Basilone.
The Christmas tree will be lit throughout the whole holiday season for the community and San Diego to enjoy.
The Little Italy Association has called in a few favors at the North Pole, and Santa Claus himself will be taking complimentary photos with the neighborhood kids and families at this year’s celebration. Santa will make his grand entrance on Little Italy’s own Fire Engine 3 at 4 p.m.
As you meander through the Christmas Village and enjoy the holiday music and seasonal vendors, be sure to be back at the corner of India and West Fir streets as the whole community joins together for the Italian countdown and watch the Little Italy Christmas Tree be lit at 5:30 p.m.
Attendees will be able to do some holiday shopping at Little Italy Mercato’s seasonal vendors’ booths throughout the Christmas Village — perfect merchandise for holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Parents can even take their little ones to the kids area, which will be located next to Santa’s Living Room, for fun crafts with Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet School and ArtReach.
There will be live entertainment, snacks, holiday beverages and more for all to enjoy!
This will be one magical night in Little Italy for all to attend. Rumor has it that there’s a sign of snow in the forecast for San Diego’s Little Italy that evening. But, you’ll have to be there to believe it — it’s just another piece of Christmas magic from Little Italy, San Diego.
If you’d like to join community members and business owners to support the Little Italy Association efforts to build its special Christmas tree this holiday season, you can by donating towards the poinsettias for just $10. Please contact 619-233-3898 if you’re interested.
To stay connected with us during the holiday season, check out what’s going on in our neighborhood by following us on Instagram and Twitter @LittleItalySD and Facebook/San Diego Little Italy.
—Christopher Gomez has been Little Italy’s district manager since 2000. Reach him at chris@littleitalysd.com.
