by Kathy Eide Casas

Don’t miss the coupon for Sunnyside Bicycles at the end of this post.

There’s always so much going on during the Ho Ho Holiday Season. Whether you’re in the holiday mood for Music, Theater, Santa’s arrival, Tree lightings, or a Jingle Bell Run, here’s a sampling of holiday events below. Please visit the accompanying websites or call for more information and ticket prices for each event.

The Tower District offers Tower Style holiday cheer! Carolers from Sunnyside High School and Roosevelt High School will be serenading diners at Tower restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights during December on the 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19.

The corner of Olive and Wishon will feature the Hearts on Fire Choir Saturday night December 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Pedicab Jeff will be giving free Tower District pedicab rides from 6 to 8 p.m. the first three Saturdays of December. What a fun and refreshing way to enjoy the ambiance of the Tow

Be sure to be on the lookout for Santa in the Tower on Saturdays in December.
For more information on Christmas in the Tower, go to towerdistrict.org/events.

Tree Lightings!

The Chowchilla Lions Club 48th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., on December 5 at the Veterans Memorial Park, Robertson Boulevard and Sixth Street.

The Oakhurst Community Christmas Tree Lighting is at 5 p.m. on December 5 at the Century 21 Ditton Realty office, located at 40307 Highway 41. Call 559-642-0313 for more information.

Sanger’s 32nd Annual Tree Lighting will be held on December 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Seventh and N streets. Info, call 559-875-4575.

Fowler has their Christmas Tree Lighting and pictures with Santa on December 5, beginning at 2 p.m. in Downtown. Call 559-834-5486 for more information.

The City of Clovis Lights up your Life with their annual lighting of the City’s Christmas Tree on Monday, December 7, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Clovis Civic Center at 1033 Fifth Street. Santa will arrive by City of Clovis Fire Truck, and will light the Christmas tree with assistance from the Mayor of Clovis. Refreshments will be served in the City Hall foyer following the ceremony. More information, call the City of Clovis Recreation at 559.324-2780.

Christmas Theater? Yes, please!

The Tulare Encore Theater presents, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
The show runs on December 3,5,11,12,17,18, & 19 at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees on December 6 & 13 at 2 p.m. More information and tickets available at www.TulareEncoreTheatre.Org.

Reedley River City Theatre Co. will be presenting Plaid Tidings at the Reedley Opera House December 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. More information can be found on their website www.reedleyrivercitytheatre.org.

A Christmas Story the musical will be on stage at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater in Fresno until January 10. You can learn more in KRL’s review of the show.

The Sounds of the Season

Opera Lovers won’t want to miss the Fresno Grand Opera’s Christmas On Van Ness, happening on Sunday, December 6 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and featuring performances by the Fresno Grand Opera Chorus and Soloists at The Big Red Church on Van Ness! Tickets/Information call 559.442.5699 or go to fresnograndopera.org/season/christmas-on-van-ness.

Fresno Philharmonic’s annual Home for the Holidays concert at the Saroyan Theater is on Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. Jack Hannah of Sons of the San Joaquin will narrate the concert, which includes a selection of favorite holiday tunes. The Fresno Master Chorale and the Fresno State Concert Choir, under the direction of Anna Hamre, are also a part of this performance. Information and tickets, go to: www.fresnophil.org or call 559.261.0600.

Devan Bolding will perform at the Selma Arts Center in The Premier Annual Holiday Showcase: Home For Christmas with Devan Bolding on Saturday, December 5 at the Selma Arts Center, 1935 High St., Selma. www.devanbolding.com, 559-420-2041.

The Night Before Christmas, Happy Holly Days! presented by the Fresno Community Concert Band and featuring Randy Morris as narrator. Soprano Hanna York is guest soloist, performing “O Holy Night,” “Panis Angelicus” and a medley of Irving Berlin Christmas tunes, with lots of other festive music played by the band.
3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 6 at the Shaghoian Hall, 2770 E. International Ave., Fresno. www.fresnocommunityband.org, 559-440-9429.

The annual free Tuba Christmas concert at Manchester Mall offers the opportunity to be immersed in a sea of deep-brass sound. Buddy Heise conducts. Details: Noon Saturday, December 5 at Manchester Mall, 1901 E Shields Ave., Fresno. www.tubachristmas.com, 559-356-9064.

The San Joaquin Chorale’s Gloria in Excelsis magnificent concert. This 70-member group performs Saturday, December 6, in Reedley, and Sunday, December 7, in Fresno. Kevin Memley is the accompanist. For more information, go to: www.sanjoaquinchorale.com/San_Joaquin_Chorale/Welcome.html.

Parades- all Parades listed here are on Saturday, December 5:

Clovis: Children’s Electric Christmas Parade, 6:30 p.m., Old Town Clovis, 559-575-4311.

Exeter: Spirit of the Holidays, 4-7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., www.exeterkiwanis.org.

Fresno: 86th annual Downtown Fresno Christmas Parade, 11 a.m., begins at Fulton and Calaveras streets.

Kingsburg: Santa Lucia Festival, 10 a.m., Swedish Village, 1475 Draper St.; Festival of Lights parade, 5:30 p.m., 559-897-2925.

Lemoore: Chamber of Commerce parade, 6 p.m., downtown, 559-924-6401.

Sanger: 68th annual Nation’s Christmas Tree City Toyland Parade, 11 a.m., Seventh and N streets, 559-875-4575.

Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree

Kings Canyon National Park: The 90th annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree, nondenominational Christmas message at 2:30 p.m. on December 13, charter bus trips available from Sanger. Call 559-875-4575 for information.

Christmas Tree Lane~Walk or Ride

Fresno: Christmas Tree Lane in Old Fig Garden, December 2-25, 6-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Information can be found at: www.christmastreelane.com. The next Walk Night is December 8. Tree Fresno provides bus service from Fig Garden Village, $7 (children on adult’s laps ride free).

Zoo Lights at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno: Zoo Lights, 5-8 p.m. December 4-6, Dec. 11-13, December 18-23, Dec. 26-30, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, 894 W. Belmont Ave., 559-498-5910, www.fresnochaffeezoo.org, $8, $6 ages 2-11; members: $6, $4 ages 2-11.

Runners and Walkers

It’s the Fresno Toys for Tots 5k Run and 2 Mile Walk on December 12 on Christmas Tree Lane. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Marine Corps Toys for tots and receive a Santa Hat – guaranteed to first 5,000!
To register: runsignup.com/Race/CA/Fresno/JingleBellRunforToysforTots.

Visalia Jingle Bell Run on Main Street in Visalia. Run or walk this 2-mile course on Main Street. All participants receive an event design sweatshirt and Jingle Bells. Bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a Santa hat! The run takes place on December 13. To register: www.visaliajinglebellrun.com.

Check out some great animal rescue related Christmas events on KRL’s animal rescue event page! And consider making a difference for the homeless in Fresno this holiday season by helping out Fresno M.E.A.L.s and Keep Fresno Warm.

Kathy Eide Casas Kathy Eide Casas is a valley native and has been involved in politics, public policy and public relations her entire career. From the U. S. and state capitols to local projects, she has been a guiding force. Most recently, Eide-Casas completed the writing for two U Turns Allowed magazines, benefiting Focus Forward. Additionally, her work has run in several other local publications, including Valley Health Magazine.