Los Gatos Lights Christmas Tree Friday

The Town of Los Gatos and the Los Gatos Community Foundation once again co-host the annual holiday tree lighting spectacular at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at Town Plaza Park, corner of East Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue.

The History Club of Los Gatos planted the majestic fir in 1923 and everyone's focus is on the crucial moment, when new Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector will choose a child to flick the switch to turn on the lights.

The two-hour-plus program begins with presentations from the Los Gatos High School and Fisher Middle School bands, a clown and balloon act, welcome and thank-you by Los Gatos Lions Club member John Lochner, introductions of Community Foundation President Janice McCabe, Mayor Spector, Council members, the youth citizens of the year and warm up songs.

At about 6 p.m., the count down begins for the exciting moment of pulling the switch to light the tree, which will be done by Spector and a child from the audience.

Santa Claus will then be escorted to his bench by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Explorer Post with more holiday singing led by Lochner, Neil Hogan and the Cantabile Youth Singers.

The public will enjoy kettle corn, coffee and hot chocolate while watching the ceremony and the foundation will be accepting donations for its recent gift to the community with the relighting of 154 trees along Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Los Gatos with energy saving LED lights.

In 2008, with the help of PG&E, the foundation purchased new eco-friendly LED lights for the tree.

Santa returns to the North Pole at about 7 p.m.