By Gillian Kik

There is one time of the year when La Mesa Boulevard feels like a winter wonderland.

Christmas in the Village is an event organized by the La Mesa Village Merchants Association and takes place every December on La Mesa Boulevard. This year, on Dec. 12 and 13, local organizations and charities gathered to embrace the holiday cheer with friends and families in La Mesa.

John Vigil, executive director of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association, made sure everyone had a joyful and happy time at the parade despite the weather delay. The two-day event continued on Saturday to give an opportunity to those who could not participate on Friday.

Christmas in the Village has become a family tradition for many including Michael Peterson, whose family has been attending Christmas in the Village for nearly 11 years.

“Ever since we started having kids, we would bring them down to [Christmas in the Village] and look around at the shops and watch the parade,” Peterson said.

This event also highlights outstanding local volunteer organizations that are working hard in our community. La Mesa’s state Sen. Joel Anderson provided Senate certificates of recognition to the volunteers of Project for Ondrea, who participated in the parade this year, for their effort to help Ondrea Hamlett, an 18-year-old who has dealt with serious injuries since she was struck by a car in December 2011. Ondrea is in great need of a wheelchair-accessible van, and the Project for Ondrea team has dedicated time and energy to share her story with the public to find people who can help.

“The La Mesa Village Merchants Association did a fantastic job with Christmas in the Village,” Anderson said. “I am touched by Ondrea’s story, and I am happy to be part of this great cause. Volunteers who share their time and talent to help those in need are heroes that make our community a better place and they deserve to be recognized. John Vigil and his team did a great job with organizing this wonderful family-friendly event.”

Watching the dancers, bagpipe players, and local Girl Scout groups on the side, the laughter and joyful conversations between friends and families in La Mesa continued on and reminded everyone of what makes La Mesa special.

—Gillian Kik, a student at Grossmont Middle College High School, is a legislative intern for Sen. Joel Anderson.