On Dec. 7, between 2 pm and 8 pm, at Nipomo Olde Towne, the club Bstronglife hosted a Christmas lighting parade to bring holiday cheer and share the Holiday Spirit with the local community. During the event, there was music, a parade, and food vendors everywhere.
The parade and music stage is set up by Bstrong Life Club members and volunteers.
“Takes weeks in advance, we start planning in the middle of July, we set up two to three weeks before cleaning out the courtyard and putting things together,” Bstrong life club volunteer Sylvia Mabanag said.
The reason the community loves this event is the fact that the club helps promote Jesus and anti-drug, anti-bullying, and helps students reach their full potential. This was the event’s 9th year, being hosted the first event having been held in 2017. Every year, the Christmas lighting event has bounce houses for kids to play in and food trucks ready to sell food to families.
“One of the objectives are putting families first and create a place and environment that is safe and healthy for anyone and any age and is a place for a family to remember and make memories and think of Nipmo as a joyful and family-oriented town,” Sylvia Mabanag said.
At the center of the cheerful family event, where the Christmas tree is, there are tiny shops and a giant stage where people from the community sing classic songs like Christmas carols or Christian songs. The parade started at 5:30, where people lined up along the streets to watch the many floats, and Santa strolled down the road.
During the parade, many local businesses participated, and so did the Nipomo and Santa Maria high school band students. At the end of the parade at 6:30, the Christmas lighting finally took place, where club members and community leaders talked about Christmas and the birth of Christ.
“ We celebrate Christmas by the birth of Jesus Christ and giving to others,” attendee Joshua Larson said.
The lighting was done by two club members who had a switch, and when they flipped it, the lights turned on, and snow started to fall. Nearing the end of the event, s’mores became available, and at around seven, Santa’s workshop was opened, where people could play games and meet Santa.
