The Town of Los Gatos and the Los Gatos Community Foundation led hundreds of residents in its annual holiday tree lighting spectacular Friday evening at the Town Plaza.
The History Club of Los Gatos planted the majestic fir in 1923. New Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector chose a child to flick the switch to turn on the thousands of blinking lights that adorn the 89-year-old tree.
The event included performances 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.
Santa Claus was also in attendance and the crowd participated in holiday singing by former Los Gatos mayor John Lochner, a member of the Los Gatos Lions Club, Neil Hogan and the Cantabile Youth Singers.
The public enjoyed kettle corn, coffee and hot chocolate while watching the ceremony and the foundation accepted 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.
The event was rescheduled Nov. 30 due to the rainy stormy weather.
