The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Lakeside’s Historic Business District as the town celebrated Christmas Cheer on Maine on Dec. 5. At the request of the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, Maine Avenue Revitalization Association members Denise and Craig Meile, Ruth Miller, Barbara Channel and the Faith Mountain Church volunteers helped decorate the businesses, buildings, fences and old fashion lamp posts in festive red and green ribbons, tinsel garland, wreaths and lighting to get folks in the Christmas spirit, it was very festive.
One day before Gov. Newsom’s stay-at-home went into effect, people were celebrating Saturday night while wearing masks and social distancing because of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lakeside Historical Society kicked off their annual Christmas Resale Shop outside in the patio during the day. Chairman Pennie McMahon said that eager shoppers were lined up, social distancing, wearing masks and using hand sanitizers, wanting to get the best bargains at cheap prices. They did not seem to mind the caution tape and following the trail which allowed them to shop from table to table without crossing paths with another shopper. They were just glad to be out of the house and doing something fun for a change.
Some of the retail shops set up tables outside in front of their buildings and there were a few vendors in pop up tents selling their wares which folks walking and strolling along the sidewalks enjoyed viewing. El Capitan High School’s marching drum line performed on one street corner and across the street at Hosanna Church the girls color guard were singing and performing their routines as well.
Back at the Olde Community Church, home to the Historical Society, there were carolers singing old fashion Christmas songs and more modern songs about Batman. Santa was sitting in the back of a pickup truck, and the kiddies could shout out their wishes to him. Even Santa wore a mask, and nearby there was a large mailbox put there so the kiddies could mail their letters to the North Pole.
For a special touch, the Lakeside Miss-Teen Pageant ambassadors, dressed up in fancy Christmas dresses, tiaras and crowns acted as the greeters and hostesses, with masks and gloves of course.
Meanwhile near the newish Lakeside overhead sign Barbara Channel planned an impromptu car parade. Folks gathered in a parking lot to decorate their vehicles with glitzy tinsel garland and blinking lights and they were soon honking their way down Maine Avenue with the public waving and cheering them along. The parade doubled back to a former restaurant where Miller and Channel set up a donation site for people to give food for the Christian Help Center.
