–The City of Atascadero will present the annual community Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday Dec. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Sunken Gardens in downtown Atascadero. This event is free and everyone is invited to bring their family and friends to enjoy an evening of holiday fun.

City officials will join with community members in the countdown to light up the trees in the Sunken Gardens which ushers in the holiday season. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive via an antique Model A fire truck to the tune of “Here Comes Santa Claus,” and everyone will then be invited to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in the lower rotunda of the Historic City Hall.

There will be lots of festive entertainment provided by the Atascadero Community Band and the Atascadero High School Show and Concert Choir. New to the event this year, Cal Poly recreation students will host a holiday crafting area and they will serve up yummy hot chocolate at City Hall on the Sunken Gardens side Palma Avenue. Complementary tours of City Hall with docents from the Atascadero Historical Society will be available from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The annual holiday lighting event is held in conjunction with Atascadero Main Street’s ever popular Art & Wine Tour, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the Art & Wine Tour will be available at the corner of El Camino Real and Entrada Avenue beginning at 5 p.m. Ticket price is $15 per person which includes a commemorative wine glass and wrist band for access to over 15 merchants who will be serving wine throughout the downtown area.

This evening will be a great way to enjoy lots of fun family festivities at Historic City Hall, combined with shopping and strolling Atascadero’s downtown while sipping a variety of great wines.