The streets of El Cajon lit up well before the traditional lighting of its Christmas tree located in the heart of downtown. Thousands joined the city for the day in celebrating Small Business Saturday, holiday events at the Prescott Promenade Park and the tree lighting ceremony in the early evening.
The streets of El Cajon lit up well before the traditional lighting of its Christmas tree located in the heart of downtown. Thousands joined the city for the day in celebrating Small Business Saturday, holiday events at the Prescott Promenade Park and the tree lighting ceremony in the early evening.
Local businesses had specials all day in celebration of Small Business Saturday with most of them continuing guest artists and season specials through the holiday season. Children had plenty to do during the day with the City of El Cajon Recreation Department and the Downtown Business Partners Association providing live music, crafts, ice-skating and yes, a visit with Santa Claus himself.
People gathered around the downtown centerpiece, listening to carols being sung by the tree. In tradition, after a full day of activities, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells arrived in the nick of time riding atop El Cajon’s Heartland Fire & Rescue fire engine to start the countdown for the lighting of the Christmas tree for the holiday season.
Wells said that he spent the day with his family, took his grandchildren to see Santa and riding on the carnival rides. He said the joint effort gets more successful each year, but that the lighting of the Christmas tree is still his favorite.
“Even though El Cajon is growing, this event gives it a small town feeling and I love that,” he said.