Carols and carriage rides highlight Concord’s downtown Tree Lighting

CONCORD, CA (Dec. 3, 2022) — Downtown Concord turned on the lights in Todos Santos Plaza on Friday night. The City’s annual holiday celebration lucked out with a dry evening sandwiched between two rainy days.

Horse-drawn carriage rides drew a long line while local vendors got a chance to market a variety of hand-made wares around the perimeter of the park. There were ladies dancing, singers singing and a couple of reindeer, well, reindeering.

Among the many vendors at the event, Mrs. Claus, AKA children’s author Susan Pace-Koch, set up a cozy booth. She offered signed copies of books such as ‘The Mermaid and the Moon’ and ‘In One Ear and Out the Other.’

Mayor Dominic Aliano led the crowd in Christmas Carols with the help of local musicians, The 925 Band. Other carolers included councilmembers Laura Hoffmeister, Carlyn Obringer, Tim McGallian and Edi Birsan. They were assisted by more city staff such as Steve Voorhies, Parks and Rec director, Valerie Barone, City Manager, and Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager. Economic Director, and former mayor, Guy Bjerke also joined in the merrymaking.

The entertainment had a wide range, from Concord High School’s Big Band to D’Ann’s Dance Academy members all dressed in matching Santa-inspired red and white. Toward the end of the evening, a young girl named Isabel took the stage for solo rendition of ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen.

It was a bright and shiny celebration of light and light-heartedness to usher in the winter holidays.