The Friday Flyer | POA Tree Lighting Festival brings crowd

Photo by Dawn Rankin

POA Tree Lighting Festival brings crowd

A crowd of Canyon Lake families flocked onto the Canyon Lake Lodge lawn to meet with Santa, play games and ceremoniously light the Lodge Christmas Tree Sunday at the 39th Annual Tree Lighting Festival hosted by the Canyon Lake POA and the Canyon Lake Junior Women’s Club.

Those attending were able to participate in several games and booths including a bounce house, a petting zoo, face painting, a ferris wheel, rock climbing and a few food trucks all while waiting for Santa to arrive by way of the big red fire engine.

Photo by Dawn Rankin

Santa made his way down to the lawn area as children of all ages huddled around him wishing him a very merry Christmas.

Santa had the honor yet again of pushing the button to light the tree as the crowd counted down. The crowd cheered as Santa bellowed out his Ho, Ho, Ho.

Santa took a group photo with the crowd and was then escorted up the Lodge steps to his chair next to the Christmas Tree. The lines were long to see Santa, but the patient kids stayed in line for the opportunity.

Afterward, the kids were able to dance around the lawn as a snow-blowing machine threw out snowflakes onto their heads.

Victoria Cashin, who was visiting Canyon Lake from Georgia to see her brand-new seven-week-old nephew, attended the Tree Lighting Festival and said she loved being there and enjoyed seeing all the families out enjoying the holiday season.

“What an absolutely great place to raise a family,” Victoria said.

The Canyon Lake Junior Women’s Club hosted its annual Christmas Donation Drive. Many attending the festival brought new toys to the Junior Women’s Club booth. The club will be distributing the toys to less fortunate children in the community and surrounding areas.

Raffle tickets were given for every toy donated and a drawing for prizes took place toward the conclusion of the festival.