{"id":91976,"date":"2025-12-12T16:20:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/91976\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T16:20:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:20:17","slug":"santa-clara-launches-2025-holiday-season-with-114th-tree-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/91976\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Clara Launches 2025 Holiday Season with 114th Tree Lighting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Under a full moon, Santa Clarans and neighbors donned their jackets and scarves and headed for Central Park to launch the holiday season at the 114th Santa Clara Holiday Tree Lighting the evening of Dec. 5. The festivities included new innovations as well as long-time traditions.<\/p>\n

The 2025 Honorary Tree Lighter was Wanda Buck, a Santa Clara resident of 32 years who embodies the spirit of the season through her volunteer work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Honorary Tree Lighter \u2026 embodies the meaning of the holiday season of spreading kindness and goodwill,\u201d said Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, introducing Buck on the holiday stage. \u201cThrough her volunteer roles, Wanda has created a lasting legacy of generosity, civic spirit and heartfelt service.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Highlighting Buck\u2019s many contributions<\/a> to the community are her senior advocacy and child advocacy with the Santa Clara Unified School District.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you do a little bit, you make it better for others,\u201d said Buck before the countdown to illuminate a festive 30-foot holiday tree. \u201cIt\u2019s fun, too, and life is meant to be enjoyed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The assembled onlookers counted down from ten, and Buck pushed a button, illuminating the tree to exclaim and applause.<\/p>\n

Central Park was packed. Friends Tresi D. and Emily Rubin from San Jose wore holiday sweaters, reindeer antlers, tree-light necklaces and holiday-theme-rimmed glasses.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re really excited about the holiday festivities\u2014the live stage performances, craft booths, food trucks,\u201d said Rubin. \u201cThis launches the holiday season for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santa Claus was a top draw, but six-year-old Eli Powell didn\u2019t get to talk to him. The timed tickets had all been given out. He and his parents, Ethan and Minori Powell, had fun anyway. They recently moved from Japan back to Santa Clara, where Ethan grew up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a lot of fun, a good mix of crafts for the kids and food,\u201d said Ethan Powell. \u201cIt\u2019s a \u00a0perfect event.\u201d<\/p>\n

A storied teddy bear, the City mascot, was an honored guest at the ceremony. Inside a protective plastic box, Teddy, in his gold hard hat, is nestled high up in a 90-foot, illuminated redwood, where he had been placed days earlier.<\/p>\n

According to the Santa Clara legend<\/a>, back in 1911, the first teddy bear was used as an impromptu city tree topper by the superintendent of Santa Clara\u2019s then-new electric company.<\/p>\n

New to the 2025 tree lighting was a section of arts and crafts booths with handmade items for holiday shopping. Sarah Valencia at Made by Mocha (www.madebymochacrafts.com) offered cute amigurumi (a Japanese word meaning small crocheted or knitted stuffed toys) items\u2014little animals and even donuts that brought nearby Stan\u2019s Donut Shop<\/a> to mind.<\/p>\n

Also new, a FIFA World Cup 2026 nine-foot-tall countdown clock was available for photo ops. It travels around the city. When not at special events\u2014the Art and Wine Festival and Parade of Champions, for example\u2014it is on view at the Benson Memorial Center at Santa Clara University.<\/p>\n

Each World Cup host city receives a countdown clock. Santa Clara\u2019s was unveiled<\/a> on June 11, 2025\u2014exactly one year before the World Cup begins in 2026\u2014at Santa Clara\u2019s Youth Soccer Park adjacent to Levi\u2019s Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cWanda Buck embodies the truth that one person, giving freely and consistently, can truly change the world around them. She embodies the values that make our city a special place, and her influence is a true gift to all who encounter it,\u201d said Mayor Gillmor.<\/p>\n

The annual Holiday Tree Lighting<\/a> also makes Santa Clara a special place. It, too, is a gift to the community.<\/p>\n

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SPONSORED<\/p>\n

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