The city of Richmond’s Community Services and Recreation departments’ annual tree lighting event Wednesday at Richmond Memorial Auditorium treated at least 200 families, kids, and community members to a night of festive cheer.
Richmondside freelance photographer Maurice Tierney was on hand to capture the fun.
Recreation Coordinator Travis Gok served as the night’s MC as multiple trees were lit in the auditorium lobby.
Mrs. Claus enchanted the crowd, and the jolly man himself was there as well. Gifts were shared, photos were taken, and the holiday spirit was in full swing.
Above: Leilani Vega makes a wish with Gok (right).
Shields-Reid Community Center children (from back left): Dulce Pérez Solano (in gold), Kimberly Guzman, Matteo Galicia, Evelyn Hernandez (center in green), Jorge Barrios (right, front) and Genesis Benavides (candy cane, far right) perform a dance.
Read our holiday calendar to find more seasonal things to do and ways to give back to the community this time of year.
The highlight? Kids, such as Abraham Hernandez (above), got to trim the trees with ornaments brought from home.
Mapuana Bal (left) of the Richmond Recreation Department gets a selfie with Santa (Eric Yee), Mrs. Claus (Sharolyn Babb) and the Grinch (Daniel LLoyd-Massey).
