Blowing snow, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Dickens Christmas carolers in Arcadia?
The popular Downtown Christmas Market presented by the Arcadia Improvement Association in association with Arcadia’s Best Foundation returns for a second year on the first three Saturday evenings in December. First Avenue will be closed between Huntington Drive and Wheeler Street to allow you to stroll around the European-style Christmas Market from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 6, 13 & 20. There you’ll also find more than 50 holiday food and merchandise vendors, Santa Claus posing for photos in front of the Fire Department’s vintage La France engine, inflated jumpers for kids, and live bands.
Last year’s first Christmas Market drew more than 1,000 participants (Christmas Market 2013 video highlights here.) New to the market this year will be free rides on a decorated horse-drawn carriage sponsored by developer MW Investment Group and “Carcadia Christmas,” a special holiday edition of the monthly Carcadia @Route 66 Sunday morning gathering of local car lovers. Carcadia Christmas will feature different local clubs each night, such as the Santa Anita A’s on Dec. 6, as well as the coolest cars of every era and style at each event.
Horse-drawn wagon carrying Rose parade royalty of year’s past in Arcadia’s Best Foundation’s 2011 Patriotic Festival will feature holiday lighting for Christmas Market 2014
Carcadia and the Christmas Market are created by the non-profit community events group Arcadia’s Best Foundation.
If you would like to be a sponsor of Carcadia Christmas at $1,000 per night each, or $2,500 for all three events, please e-mail Info@ArcadiasBestFoundation.org or call (626) 538-5431 or Scott Hettrick right away at 626-485-8783.
In addition to the professional Dickens carolers roaming the Market on Dec. 6, local singers from the Southern California Mormon Choir, Jeff, Cindy, Jocelyn, and Emily Combe, and Beth Stogner, will perform traditional Christmas Carols in Dickens-era costumes from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 20. Stogner is a familiar local singer whose day job is with the Arcadia Fire Department.
The primary sponsor again this year is
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, as well as Forest Lawn Arcadia, with additional support from the City of Arcadia, Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant, Marie Taylor of NAI Capital, and Downtown Arcadia attorney April A. Verlato.
MW Investment Group is sponsor of the new horse and carriage rides, which will pick riders up on Wheeler at First Avenue.
The farmer’s market and other elements are provided by Family Festival Productions, with the festive holiday lighting, overall atmosphere and event management created by Wayne Tay. Decorations and supplies are from Town & Country Event Rentals.
Plenty of free parking is available in several public lots off Wheeler Street east and west of First Ave.
— By Scott Hettrick