(COLUSA COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Colusa County knows how to do Christmas well. Tonight, the Colusa Lions Club, Colusa Rotary Club, and City of Colusa will kick
off a string of free holiday events scheduled throughout Colusa County in December with the most beloved of all, Christmas Tyme in Colusa.
The festivities get underway on Market Street at 6 pm with music, crafts, food, children’s activities, tree lighting, and Santa Claus, who will be escorted into town on a fire truck.
“The Christmas Tyme Committee has been meeting for the last two months and has so many new items,” said Colusa Rotarian Antonio Ortiz. “We have raised a good amount of money for more Christmas lights on the tree, we have a band and a Mariachi, we have a horse and carriage ride, a bounce house area, Ms. Claus Story Reading, and more vendors registered than we did last year.”
Christmas Tyme in Colusa is just one of many free events that welcomes people from within and outside Colusa County to celebrate hometown pride during the holidays.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, the public is invited to head up to the foothills for the annual Stonyford Christmas Bazaar, which will be held from 8 am to 3 pm at the Stonyford Community Hall. Enjoy breakfast and lunch while perusing a
variety of crafts, baked goods, honey products, jewelry, gifts baskets, and more.
On Sunday, Dec. 3, the Arbuckle Revitalization Committee will host the Hometown Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting. The event gets underway at 4 pm at LaVanche Hursh Community Park, in downtown Arbuckle, with Santa
and Mrs. Claus, local vendors selling homemade crafts and food, carriage rides, and a lot more. The event runs until 7 pm.
Next weekend, the City of Williams rings in the Christmas holidays on Saturday, Dec. 9, with another beloved hometown tradition.
“This year, the Williams Park and Recreation Department is taking over the Festival of Lights,” said Recreation Director Ben Padilla. “We were asked back in March to take it over as well as Pioneer Day, which we did. The Citizens of Better Williams has run (Festival of Lights) since 2007.”
Padilla said the festivities on that day will include the lighting of the town Christmas Tree and a vendor fair. All is happening from 4 to 8 pm in and around the Town Square in downtown Williams, with Santa Claus holding court
for children at the Williams Fire Hall.
“We’re looking forward to putting it on and we have gotten a lot of people interested in being in the parade, including cheerleading groups from different cities,” Padilla said.
The Festival of Lights will be held rain or shine, officials said, although clear weather is expected to hold through that weekend.
Wrapping up the hometown Christmas festivals in 2023 will be Maxwell’s Country Christmas celebration on Friday, Dec. 15, hosted by Maxwell Park and Recreation District and Auxiliary.
The seventh annual event will be held from 5 to 8 pm at the Maxwell Fire Department’s town square on Oak Street with a vendor fair, food and hot drinks, tree lighting, and opportunities to win fabulous prizes.
The highlight of Country Christmas is the fabulous Maxwell Lighted Tractor Parade, which will step off at 6 PM. First, second, and third place trophies will be awarded to the top participants, as judged by members of the Colusa
County Chamber of Commerce. For the first time, a trophy will be awarded to the best performance group in the parade.
There is no cost to attend any of the hometown Christmas events, organizers said.
“We just want people to come out and enjoy the festivities,” Padilla said.
For those looking for other free activities this holiday season, enjoy the performances of the Community Christmas Choir, which will perform Dec. 7 at the Arbuckle United Methodist Church; Dec. 8 at the Grimes Community
Church; and Dec. 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church, in Colusa. All performances begin at 7 PM.
On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the public can also enjoy a free Yuletide Dinner from noon to 1 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church Friendship Hall, in Colusa.