San Juan Bautista
– Maybe you’ve been too busy sending the kids off to school or
trying to sneak in one last trip to the beach before fall, but in
case you haven’t noticed, Christmas is only 117 days away – and San
Juan is already getting excited.
San Juan Bautista – Maybe you’ve been too busy sending the kids off to school or trying to sneak in one last trip to the beach before fall, but in case you haven’t noticed, Christmas is only 117 days away – and San Juan is already getting excited.
San Juan Bautista is working with the mission city’s Chamber of Commerce to put together an “old-fashioned” Christmas this year, building on old traditions and adding a few new ones to the mix in an effort to show both locals and visitors the best of what the small town has to offer.
“The message here is ‘Slow Down,'” City Manager Jan McClintock said. “Get out of the mall, get out of the stress and enjoy your holiday.”
Locals will already be familiar with many of San Juan’s Christmas traditions – each year the city brings out its saint statues in a nod to the history of Mission San Juan Bautista, and El Teatro Campesino’s annual Christmas play is a staple of the season for many local theater fans.
“We’re taking our old traditions and making them even better,” said Denise Cauthen-Wright, executive director of San Juan’s Chamber of Commerce.
Organizers have several ideas as to how best to build on the city’s traditions, most of which are still in the early planning stages. One goal is to have a holiday parade to mark the start of the season, possibly coinciding with the merchants’ open house.
“It would be similar to the one in Hollister, but we’d do it the week afterwards,” Cauthen-Wright said.
Another idea is to have horse-drawn carriage rides available during the weekend and Christmas trees decorated by local schoolchildren on display. Cauthen-Wright said the city had trouble with its trees and fire safety last year, but has the kinks worked out for 2006.
“We’ve figured it out so that everything follows code,” she said. “What we want to do is have craft materials available so that kids can make their own ornaments for the trees.”
Right now the city is actively looking for performance groups and artists interested in entertaining holiday shoppers. Several community college groups have responded positively but organizers say they need as many acts, whether large or small, as they can find.
“We can’t offer any pay,” McClintock said. “But a lot of these school or church groups or actors or vocalists are just looking for a place to perform because they love what they do.”
Ensuring a healthy Christmas season for San Juan merchants is important, McClintock said.
“Christmastime is always an important season in retail,” McClintock said. “It keeps these guys going from Christmas to tourist season.”
Moreover, organizers are confident that San Juan has more to offer holiday shoppers than a big-city mall or retail outlet.
“We have 50 specialty shops all within walking distance, and you’re going to find things here that you just can’t get at the mall,” Cauthen-Wright said. “You’re supposed to enjoy your holidays, and if you come to San Juan we want to help you do that.”
Anyone interested in performing in San Juan this Christmas can call City Hall at 623-4661 or the San Juan Chamber of Commerce at 623-2454.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com.
