El Centro lights traditional Christmas Tree

Hundreds of El Centro families braved the cold weather on Friday evening and came out to enjoy holiday music by local school bands as they waited for the lighting of the traditional Christmas tree.

Many ate cookies and holiday snacks or drank hot chocolate. Some danced while others just stayed warm by being close to each other.

Event organizers said many of the Christmas tree decorations were made by school children.

Later in the evening, El Centro Mayor Jason Jackson would lead the countdown to the lighting of the giant Christmas tree on the lawn of the police department on 11th Street.

Wilson Junior High School band director Jackie Mullaney told us what being part of the event meant to her students.

“Christmas is family to me. And I think that means the same thing to our students. A lot of Christmas is just the holidays and being together with family. And the tree lighting symbolizes all of that. As soon as the tree lights up you just know that you feel warmth in your heart. And you know that. El Centro is just a beautiful community with wonderful families all living together. And so that’s what we want to represent here with Wilson. It’s just beautiful diverse students,” Mullaney said.

Santa Claus arrived later in the evening atop an El Centro fire engine with gifts for hundreds of the children at the event.