The Grinch and Cindy Lou bring holiday cheer to Salinas
The Grinch and Cindy Lou made a special appearance at the Salinas PAL Center, transforming it into ‘Jingletown’ for a festive breakfast event benefiting local programs
Updated: 9:29 AM PST Dec 21, 2025
The Grinch and Cindy Lou made a special appearance at the Salinas PAL Center on Saturday morning, transforming it into “Jingletown” with Christmas decorations for a festive breakfast event.”I’m feeling amazing. This might be the holiday season, that’s something I don’t like,” said the Grinch. “I enjoy being here. This is fun. I like the kids. Sometimes.”Families, including Veronica Cortez and her daughters, embraced the holiday spirit by wearing Grinch-themed clothing and enjoying breakfast, story time, pictures with the Grinch, and arts and crafts activities.”They’re only little for so long, so I think just embracing it, enjoying making the most out of it, having them get exposed to things that we normally don’t do, and embracing community events because sometimes, we don’t take part in it, so when we do, we’re like, wow, Salinas is just a really great place to be,” Cortez said.One of her daughters expressed her enjoyment of “spending time with family” and “meeting new people.”Children also learned the true meaning of Christmas. “I learned that it was about family gratitude and other stuff like that,” one child said.The proceeds from the breakfast support the Salinas Police Activities League, funding various programs in Salinas, including baseball leagues, soccer, art, painting, and ballet, ensuring parents don’t have to spend extra money.”At the end of the day, it’s all for a good cause,” the Grinch said. “Everything is for people to come together, even though I don’t like it. I have to deal with it, which eventually, my heart’s going to grow. It’s bound to happen.”
SALINAS, Calif. —
The Grinch and Cindy Lou made a special appearance at the Salinas PAL Center on Saturday morning, transforming it into “Jingletown” with Christmas decorations for a festive breakfast event.
“I’m feeling amazing. This might be the holiday season, that’s something I don’t like,” said the Grinch. “I enjoy being here. This is fun. I like the kids. Sometimes.”
Families, including Veronica Cortez and her daughters, embraced the holiday spirit by wearing Grinch-themed clothing and enjoying breakfast, story time, pictures with the Grinch, and arts and crafts activities.
“They’re only little for so long, so I think just embracing it, enjoying making the most out of it, having them get exposed to things that we normally don’t do, and embracing community events because sometimes, we don’t take part in it, so when we do, we’re like, wow, Salinas is just a really great place to be,” Cortez said.
One of her daughters expressed her enjoyment of “spending time with family” and “meeting new people.”
Children also learned the true meaning of Christmas. “I learned that it was about family gratitude and other stuff like that,” one child said.
The proceeds from the breakfast support the Salinas Police Activities League, funding various programs in Salinas, including baseball leagues, soccer, art, painting, and ballet, ensuring parents don’t have to spend extra money.
“At the end of the day, it’s all for a good cause,” the Grinch said. “Everything is for people to come together, even though I don’t like it. I have to deal with it, which eventually, my heart’s going to grow. It’s bound to happen.”