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As Mayor in late November 1992, I
received an invitation to come to
Downtown on the first Saturday in
December and watch the children’s holiday
parade. A long-standing tradition
from decades past, the event was being
revived by community volunteers.
So I made my way to Downtown that
morning and joined a small group of folks
in front of what was then Bob’s Court
House Coffee Shop near the Fox Theater.
The parade began and proceeded up
Broadway toward our location, and I
turned for a few moments to acknowledge
a greeting from a person standing
behind me.
When I turned back to see the parade, it
had already passed me by.
The Spectrum . Redwood City's Monthly Magazine
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS
RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN
by Judy Buchan
Contributing Writer
Fortunately, Virginia Ball and Jeff Filippi of
the Civic Cultural Commission, along with Lorretta Knight and other dedicated volunteers,
stepped in the next year. A particularly tenacious member of the Civic Cultural
Commission, Ball along with her colleagues worked long and hard to develop “Tis the
Season,” a holiday event that included a children’s parade, fireworks, and information
about other yuletide events throughout Redwood City.
Last year, Virginia’s wish for a true holiday festival grew into the “Hometown Holidays”
Children’s Parade and Fireworks Festival presented by the Redwood City Downtown
Business Group and Peninsula Sunrise Rotary. Spearheaded by Fred Ganjei of Mayers
Jewelers, Lorianna Kastrop, and many volunteers, last year’s event saw snowballs fly in
Downtown as kids and parents played in the snow lot provided by the Downtown
Business Group. Families lined up for a city block to have free photos taken with Santa
in front of the San Mateo County History Museum.
The parade had some 800 participants, and included floats, mariachis, twirlers, guide
dogs, Miss Redwood City, Studio S dancers, just to name a few. Resplendent in their holiday
attire, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were the highlight of the parade and helped to usher
in the holiday season.
All of the above
and more
awaits you and
your family
w h e n
Hometown
Holidays
returns to
Downtown
Redwood City
this year on
Saturday,
December 3,
featuring the
traditional children’s
parade
and a dazzling
fireworks display.
“To me, this festival reflects the spirit of our community and our downtown Renaissance,”
said Lorianna Kastrop of The Kastrop Group, Inc., Architects, located in Downtown
Redwood City, and Peninsula Sunrise Rotary.
“Business people have found this way to do something special for families as a holiday
gift,” she continued. “Most importantly, the kids all seemed to have a great time, and
since it’s free, it is available to everyone.”
“And it’s a great collaborative effort
between the downtown businesses and
other business sponsors, the Civic
Cultural Commission, many City departments,
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club,
and youth groups,” Kastrop added. “Last
year the CBS news affiliate announcer
proclaimed on their TV broadcast “Way to
go Redwood City!” and that’s exactly the
reaction we want.”
Fred Ganjei, of Mayers Jewelers and the
Downtown Business Group, agreed that
collaboration is key. “It’s great working
with the merchants, the city, and the City
Council,” he said. He also spoke about an
interesting discovery from last year’s
event: “We were surprised that half the
kids at the snow lot last year had never
seen snow.”
Hometown Holidays is for “the kids, we’re doing it for them,” Ganjei said. “We want to
make it bigger and better next year, with more floats and activities for the kids and families.
This is our gift to the community.”
The day kicks off with playing in the snow at the San Mateo Credit Union parking lot, 411
Middlefield, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; the “Discover Downtown” beverage walk from 11 a.m.-
4 p.m.; free photos with Santa at Washington Mutual, 2400 Broadway, from 12 p.m.-4
p.m., an ice sculpture demonstration, musical entertainment, and entertainment at the
San Mateo County History Museum and the Redwood City Public Library.
Event programs and maps will be available at City Hall and also at the information booth
located at Marshall and Middlefield.
Led by the Woodside High School Wildcat Marching Band and the Redwood City Twirlers,
this year’s parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at Hamilton and Marshall. In addition to the
band and the twirlers, this year’s current list of entries is a cross section of the community.
A partial list of entries includes: the Peninsula Symphony, San Mateo Guide Puppies,
Open Gate Nursery School, Peninsula Christian School, Redwood City Mothers Club,
Redwood City
Girl Scouts,
San Mateo
Gymnastics, El
C o n -
cilio/Alianza
Comunitaria
Latina, the
Redwood City
Fire Department/Police
Activities
League Toy and
Book Drive,
Salvation Army
Redwood City
Corps, Miss
Redwood City
Scholarship
Association,
Citywide Children’s Chorus, Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, Ballet America, and the
return of Bethlehem A.D. from Peninsula Christian Church.
(continued on page 12)