Holiday Celebrations Planned Throughout the First District

The holidays are officially upon us! Following is our guide to Christmas and holiday-themed events planned throughout the First District. It's looking to be a very busy month indeed.

The City of Adelanto’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is planned from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 1 at Adelanto City Hall. There will be visits with Santa, Christmas caroling, and refreshments. For more information, please call 760-246-2300, ext. 11124.

The City of Hesperia's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is planned at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Festivities will include visits with Santa and Christmas music featuring performances by HUSD students. The event is free to the public and will take place at Hesperia Civic Plaza Park, 15833 Smoke Tree Street.

Hesperia High School is inviting the community to its Winter Fest, planned from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 2. Enjoy pictures with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, food vendors, gift wrapping, face painting, candy apples, crafts, and more.

The Phelan-Pinon Hills CSD Tree Lighting will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Phelan Community Park. Guests can enjoy photos and visits with Santa, along with plenty of hot chocolate and candy canes. The park is located at 4128 Warbler Rd., Phelan. For more information, please call (760) 868-1212.

Barstow Chamber of Commerce will host "A Harvey House Christmas" from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 2. The event will include live music, children's activities, holiday vendors and visits with Santa. The tree lighting will take place at 7 p.m. For more information, call 760-256-5617.

The City of Victorville’s Festival of Lights & Tree Lighting will take place from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Victorville City Hall. Enjoy hot chocolate & cookies, food, craft & gift vendors, music, carriage rides, visits with Santa, and the lighting of the tree. Admission, parking, and event attractions are free. For more information, call (760) 245-5551.

Kiwanis Club of Victorville and Options for Youth are cohosting the 75th Annual Victorville Children's Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. Dec. 3. The event, which will take place on 7th Street between La Paz and Forrest, will boast marching bands, dance groups, car clubs, horses, and more from across the High Desert. The Grand Marshal is Larry Huber, a Kiwanis member who has been serving the community for 50 years. For more information, or to participate in the parade, go to https://www.kiwanisofvictorville.com

The Silver Lakes Association’s Christmas Parade will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, beginning at North Beach.  The route will go down Silver Lakes Parkway to Lakeview. For more information, click here.

Pine Needles Quilt Guild is celebrating its 26th Holiday Home Tour and Boutique in Wrightwood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Four homes will be decorated for the holidays and draped in warm and colorful quilts created by artisan members of the Guild. The tour includes a boutique at the Wrightwood Community Building where guests can browse handcrafted items. There is also a refreshment house with homemade cookies and hot cider. For more information, call Lynn Crawford at 760-249-8869 or 760-408-3545. 

Join Hesperia Parks and Recreation on Saturday, Dec. 3, for the Spark of Love Toy Drive and Fishing Derby. To enter the derby or enjoy some pancakes, bring an unwrapped toy worth $10 or more to Hesperia Lake Park, 7500 Arrowhead Lake Rd., Hesperia. For more information, please visit HesperiaParks.com.

The Town of Apple Valley's Christmas Tree Lighting will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Town Hall. This family-friendly event will include free hot chocolate, giveaways and live entertainment. Be sure to bring your own camera for a picture with Santa! Admission and parking are free. Civic Center Park and Town Hall are located at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway in Apple Valley.

The Town of Apple Valley is also hosting a Santa Fun Run, with check in beginning at 3 p.m. Dec. 6. All participants will receive a warm cup of hot chocolate and their very own Santa Hat. Cost is $15. Register here.

Wrightwood Place will host “Santa’s Workshop” from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7. Bring your own camera for a free family photoshoot with Santa. There will also be gifts, toys, crafts, music, face painting, treats and gift wrapping. Wrightwood Place is located at 770 Highway 2, Wrightwood. For more information, please call 909-222-0976.

The High Desert Association of Realtors will present a “Merry Christmas Party and Toy Drive” from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. Enjoy music, refreshments, hot cider and desserts. Please bring a $20 unwrapped toy to benefit the Christmas Cops and Kids Project. To RSVP, please call 760-244-8841 or email Valerie@HDAOR.com

Santa’s North Pole Mailbox has arrived at Hook Community Center. Children can drop off their letters to Santa from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 9. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive a response from Santa. Hook Community Center is located at 14973 Joshua St., Victorville. For more information, please call (760) 245-5551.

The City of Adelanto’s 16th annual Christmas Parade is planned at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, on the corner of Seneca and Aster roads.   The parade will proceed east on Seneca, ending on Bellflower Street at Desert Trails Elementary School. For more information, please call 760-246-2300, ext. 11124.

Victorville Fire Department, in partnership with Home Depot, is hosting the Jolly Holiday Craft Fair from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville.  Santa will be visiting with children between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the antique fire truck will be on display between noon and 2 p.m. Enjoy shopping from local vendors, visiting Santa Claus, creating in the craft area presented by Home Depot, and more at this free community event.

The Town of Apple Valley is hosting a Holiday Tea & Heritage Room Tour from 5-6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. The last Town Council meeting of the year will follow at 6:30 p.m. inside the Town Hall Council Chambers. This is a wonderful time to get to know your Apple Valley Council and learn all about Apple Valley’s history.

The Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library will host a Christmas event from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13. Join them for a winter wonderland of holiday crafts, stories and more. Check out 15 items during the event to receive a holiday incentive and chance to win a grand prize!

Calico Ghost Town in Yermo will host “Flannels & Flapjacks with Santa Claus” on Saturday, Dec. 17. The $60 packages admits four people into the park, flapjacks for four, shopping discounts at participating shops, and a printed photo with Santa Claus. Limited packages are available at Sbcountyparks.com.

The 7th Annual Rock’n Our Disabilities “Very Merry Christmas” event will take place from noon until 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds. Guests will enjoy dinner, pictures with Santa, cooking decorating and face painting.  The event will take place inside the Desert Valley Hospital Building at San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, located at 14800 7th Street in Victorville. For more information, call Rock’n Our Disabilities at (760) 998-2241.

High Desert Second Chance is hosting its annual Christmas Winter Wonderland event from 5-9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19. Guests will enjoy music, photo booths, free popcorn, hot dogs, pictures with Santa, and more. Registered families will receive gifts and dinner boxes. The event is located at 16666 Smoke Tree Street, Building B4, in Hesperia. For more information, please call 442-267-4444.

The annual Trona Christmas Celebration will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at the Trona Community Center. Enjoy caroling at 5 p.m. followed by a free dinner at 6 p.m. There will also be an ugly sweater contest and Photo Booth. The center is located at 13187 Market Street, Searles Valley.