WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – Williams residents and visitors to the city on Dec. 14 got what they wished for at the Festival of Lights.
After two days of pouring rain – enough to close several county roadways – the clouds parted, as if by holiday magic, so hundreds of people could comfortably flock to the downtown for food, entertainment, and the event’s signature lighted Christmas parade.
“This is the second year Williams Parks and Recreation hosted the Festival of Lights,” said Ben Padilla, recreation director. “It is a rain or shine event.”
Parade entries included Morningstar’s “Whoville” float, featuring Grich, whose big heart grew three times that day, and JV Grooming’s Santa Dog float. There were also several private entries, including CJ LaGrande, the Boes family, and Colusa County Little Miss Reese Cunningham. The Williams Fire Department escorted Santa Claus to the fire station, where hundreds of children shared their wishes and received a tote bag full of gifts.
The Williams Festival of Lights has brought that magical feeling of the holiday season to the city since 2008, but Saturday evening’s event had another first for the Sacramento Valley Museum, which co-founded the original downtown festival with Citizens for a Better Williams.
For the first time in its 53-year history, the Community Christmas Choir performed a free concert on the museum stage, accompanied by Cynthia White on the museum’s baby grand piano, recently donated by a Live Oak family with ties to Williams.
“I’ve been trying to get the Community Choir here for several years,” said Museum Trustee Cindy Gobel. “With a piano, this just opens up all kinds of doors. My goal is to provide piano concerts.”
Gobel said she has a list of women and men in Colusa County who play the piano and hopes the newly tuned instrument becomes a draw to get people through the doors.
“There are still people in Williams who don’t even know this museum exists,” Gobel said.
Community Choir Director Elizabeth Yerxa said they previously turned down performances at the museum because the ensemble traditionally performs religious Christmas hymns at churches throughout the county.
“We didn’t know what kind of reception we would get,” said Yerxa, who was thrilled with the reception they got.
Donna Anderson founded the Community Christmas Choir at the Arbuckle United Methodist Church in 1969. The choir, which started its 53rd season for singing on Dec. 12 at the founding church, has 26 members, although several from the group were away or ill for Saturday’s performance.
The choir performed Silent Night, With Empty Hearts, We Wait, and A Joyous Choir of the Bells, among others. Clara Dragoo, 12, performed a solo Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.
Members of the public filled the museum and joined in singing What Child is This, Joy to the World, and other holiday favorites.
The Colusa County Christmas Combo (instrumental), led by Ron Rector, also performed a Christmas medley.
Sacramento Valley Museum Trustee Scott Arens said he was pleased with the turnout of people who came to the concert after the Festival of Lights to celebrate the holidays more traditionally.
“In the tradition of Christmas, there is a reason for the season – and that is Christ,” Arens said. “We are grateful for the individuals who put out the effort to keep that tradition going, to talk to him, and to congregate together in his name.”