?The holiday season is here again, and so are the Ocean Beach Tree Festival events, sponsored by the OB Tree Committee, a subcommittee of the Ocean Beach Town Council.
The festivities will begin with the arrival of the OB Christmas tree on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the foot of Newport Avenue. The tree is scheduled to arrive before noon.
Tree decoration will take place Thursday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents are welcome to join students from all of the area elementary schools, including Barnard, Cabrillo, Dewey, Loma Portal, Ocean Beach, Silver Gate and Sunset View Elementary, as well as area preschools and nursery schools, who will assist in the decorating with their very own handmade ornaments. Traditionally, the tree is covered with its share of beach balls along with the students’ ornaments.
Later in the evening on Nov. 30, from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., the Holiday Auction will take place at Sunshine Company Saloon, at 5028 Newport Ave. Open to members of the community age 21 and older, the auction includes donated items from local merchants, including stuffed animals, wagons, scooters, bikes and an array of unusual gift items.
Proceeds from the auction will go toward the OB Holiday Parade and the food and toy drive, which benefits local charities. Last year, a battered women’s shelter and more than 80 families in need received at least a week’s worth of holiday food and age-appropriate, wrapped gifts.
More events will follow in the weeks leading to Christmas Day, including visits from Santa, a merchant storefront decorating contest (applications available on the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association Web site) and, of course, the holiday parade.
For more information on OB Tree Festival events, call Claudia Jack at (619) 226-8613 or (619) 846-6269, Gerry at (858) 518-8517 or visit www.oceanbeachsandiego.com.