Dickens Village Is This Saturday

Sierra Madre will host as its formal kick off to the holiday shopping season on Saturday. The day coincides with Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

From 3 to 8 p.m. the downtown area will host special festivities designed to bring shoppers to the popular shops in the Foothill Village. Kids will be able to snow sled and ride a choo-choo train. Local artists will have their work on display and for sale in the “Art Alley” located at Renaissance Plaza. Local nonprofit organizations and other vendors will have booths set up in the street at Kersting Court. Beginning at 4 p.m., horse and buggy rides will be available in a loop around a four-square block area downtown.

Alumni from the Citrus Singers choral group will be caroling at various locations downtown throughout the day. There will be a silent auction of living mini-Christmas trees decorated by local school children.

Shortly after dusk the official tree-lighting will take place at Kersting Court. Santa, accompanied by the from the 2012 Rose Parade, will be available to listen to the wishes of youngsters beginning at 6 p.m.

Another highlight to the event will be the debut of the newly restored Nativity figures in the crèche. Weather damaged figures have been undergoing sanding, molding and painting since August, thanks to local artist volunteers from the Sierra Madre Friends of the Arts. Local churches have pitched in as sponsors of the project.

This release was submitted by the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce.