THE FIRST WEEKEND of December arrived with clouds of rain, Christmas lights and holiday spirit across San Joaquin County.
Kicking off the festivities was the Annual Festival of Lights at Lodi’s San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park. The three-day festival, which took place Dec. 1-3, is one of the biggest events on museum’s calendar, with over 60 trees decorated by the members of the community and different community organizations in its 31st year.
The first day of the event this past Friday was a preview day with limited tickets, for those who have a hard time with large crowds.
The event attracted at least 1,500 attendees each day; 1,200 tickets had been sold by noon on Saturday.
“You can tell that the committee puts a lot of time into (the festival) and a lot of it revolves around children and it starts the Christmas spirit for the holiday season,” said Ashley Trammell. Trammell’s dance studio “Twinkle Toes” performed at the festival for a third year in a row.
The festival also had several activities for children including candle making and decoration, doll making, coloring and craft activities, and more.
Gabby Gonzalez (left) and Alessandra Maya tour the Christmas decorations during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A sign offers a holiday greeting outside the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A massive Christmas Tree is set up for the lighting ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
From left, Bethanie Corona, Juliannie Corona and Julissa Corona get a photo with Santa Claus during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Yvette Barnard, dressed as Santa Claus, gives a hug to Nova Gill during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Alondra Reyes decorates a cookie for Souvoun Gill during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
The grounds of Weber Point Events Center in Stockton are filled with booths and decorations for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Children play in a pile of snow during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Children play in a pile of snow during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Christmas trees decorated for the Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Mason Truelock, 6, tops his handmade wax candle with a star during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Keila Salguer, 11, looks out through a face hole during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Eliana Salguero, 3, watches a Native American dance from a face hole during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Jeremiah Martin, 2, plays with an interactive snowman cutout during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Harley Gogna, 6, sports a Santa Claus postcard themed bowtie on her hair during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Noah Gogna, 3, decorates a snowman on a bag during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Volunteers help children make candy canes out of beads during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Shelly Livingston volunteers during Festival of Lights at the Calevaras School at Micke Grove Park in Lodi. The dates of the festival are written with the year 1884, a year the classroom was active. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A “Jaws” themed Christmas tree includes an ornament showing a scene from the movie during Festival of Lights at Micke Grove Park in Lodi on Dec. 2, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
In the meantime, Stockton’s Weber Point Events Center transformed into Whoville for its annual traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
The event was hosted by the city of Stockton in partnership with Lily Pad Living, a transitional living facility in Stockton.
“The city asked us to partner with them to be able to give them a little more things to smile and laugh about today,” said Stephanie Braithwaite, owner and facility director of Lily Pad Living. “We always go over the top; we love Grinch, we love Whoville, so it was a good partnership.”
The event was from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with vendors, Santa Claus, the Grinch, toy drive, free cookies and hot chocolate provided by the city. The tree lighting concluded the evening shortly after dusk.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
