This year has been nothing but challenging for all of us. The Pines Resort has made an intentional decision to be creative, do not to give up and try to go against all the obstacles. They are about to do that again…
On Saturday, November 28th the Pines Resort will be hosting 29th consecutive Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Due to ongoing pandemic and current gathering restrictions, the event will have to look a little different this year. On a typical year, close to a thousand people gather at Bass Lake on the Saturday, following Thanksgiving to kick off the Holiday Season with a festive parade of lights, tree lighting and the arrival of Santa Claus. Guests wander around the middle parking lot, drinking hot cocoa, starting their Holiday gift shopping at the craft fair and enjoy holiday music. This year our festivities it will be a little different.
Drive Thru Event
“Our Governor’s gathering restrictions has forced us to be innovative”, said Mark Choe, General Manager. “Our priority is to bring some cheer this Holiday Season, but we want to do so with everyone’s safety in mind”, he added. This year the Float Parade will happen in a reverse order, which means, all floats will be parked and spectators will be able to drive through and admire them from the comfort and safety of their own car.
How to participate?
There will be multiple parts to the event, so everyone can decide, based on their comfort level, on how they want to participate this year. You can also participate in more than one way.
DRIVE THRU
Guests, residents, and visitors are encouraged to gather their family and friends, and come to Bass Lake on the Saturday, following Thanksgiving. The Pines Village will be converted into a Christmas Village, just like seen on a Hallmark movie. The upper parking lot will be filled with festive floats and inflatables, illuminated with Christmas lights and all of our favorite holiday music, provided by DJ Albert from Fig Productions. It is free to drive through the Pines Village Holiday Lane.
HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER with PRIZE DRAWING
Holiday Fundraiser with Drawing will be replacing past years Christmas Raffle, where for a few dollars participants could purchase tickets and enter for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including overnight stays, Resort gift cards, or items generously donated by Craft Fair vendors and local businesses. This year, the Pines Resort has decided to donate a 3-night stay (a Sunday thru a Tuesday) in their luxury Granite Ridge Villa (prize value up to $3,064!). Tickets are sold at $25/ticket; $100/5 tickets or $200/6 tickets. 1 ticket / donation = 1 entry into the drawing.
All proceeds from the Holiday Fundraiser will be donated to theΒ Valley Children’s Foundation.
Donations will be accepted, starting on November 20th and continue through November 30th, 2020. The winner will be selected live during the opportunity drawing, held on Facebook stream on December 14th, 2020. Prize can be redeemed on selected dates in 2021.
LETTERS TO SANTA – GIVEAWAY
In lieu of Free Bike Raffle, all families are encouraged to help their children (under the age of 12) write a letter to Santa and include some of the most wanted 3-5 items. Pines Santa will step in to help parents (and the North Pole Santa Claus) and randomly pick at least 5 families and grant at least one wish per child. To help us with the logistics, we require all letters to be submitted on specially designed form. One form per family (please include all children in the home on one form). The letter must be dropped off on Saturday, Nov. 28th during the event from 5:30pm until 8pm and gift pick up with be hosted on December 19th & 20th (the weekend before Christmas). Any unclaimed gift will benefit Toys For Tots.
PINES VILLAGE ARTS & CRAFT FAIR
Join us for last Pines Village Arts & Crafts Fair in 2020! Start your Holiday shopping and enjoy an opportunity to purchase custom gifts, handmade items and unique finds. In addition, you are supporting our local artists and vendors:
- crochet & knitted items
- art and photography (pending weather conditions)
- wood scroll saw crafts
- soy candles
- books
- vintage jewelry
- aprons, purses & accessories
- dog accessories
- wooden cutting boards, butcher blocks, pens
- wooden puzzle & toys
- natural cosmetics and bug repellent
- porch signs
- furniture and more.
We have 20 vendors signed up and they will be set up outside the post office from November 27th until November 29th, enforcing current safety precautions .
FLOAT DISPLAY
Are you a business, club, association, organization or a family that is looking for a fun way to start the Holiday Season? Join us this year and decorate your vehicle, trailer or a boat with holiday lights and inflatables or turn your ez-up into a holiday display. All displays must be self-sufficient and families or members of the organization will be asked to attend their floats during the event. You are welcome to promote your business during the event or simply just greet families driving through. The cost to participate is $20 and all proceeds will be added to the main donation for the Valley Children’s Foundation.
One of the beloved traditions is to pass candy out during the event. Please make sure all candy is in its original wrappers. Be cautious and wear a mask while approaching a vehicle. It is up to participant whether they wish to participate and do so at their own risk, understanding current health concerns, related to the pandemic.
The Pines Resort will be closing the venue to foot traffic during the event to ensure safety of all participants. Read more…
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
- Inflatable Donation – if you do not have time to build a float or simply do not feel comfortable participating in person, please consider (as a family, business, or club) to purchase and donate an inflatable. You are welcome to customize it (dress up, add business logo, etc.) and we will display it during the event and move it to the Park across from the Bakery for the entire Holiday Season. This is a great opportunity to add some joy to the season, as well as get more exposure for your organization. Cost: inflatable + $20 spot reservation.
- Secret Santa – help us make some kids’ wishes come true. Let us know if you are willing to participate in the Secret Santa program and we will let you select one or multiple letters and grant wishes. Number and type of wishes is at your discretion. We only ask for the commitment in advance and fulfillment by the deadline Dec. 20th, 2020.
- Charitable Donation – consider making a monetary donation to Valley Children’s Foundation. It will help provide neccessary care and services to pediatric patients, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Suggested donation: $50 will be combine with any adidtional proceeds from the event.
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Safety precautious
For safety of our participants, staff, and spectators, the event venue (upper parking lot) will be closed to foot traffic. The CAR-nival will be held from 5:30pm until 7:30pm for a drive thru only. If you are able to do so safely – you may drive through more than once. We urge everyone to participate responsibly. Please remain in your car for the Holiday Lane. When attending the craft fair – avoid gatherings and come prepared with facial covering and hand sanitizer.
Although this decision was not made lightly, The Pines Resort has decided not to host the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony this year. Instead, the village tree will be lit at dusk and remain displayed into the New Year. Pictures with Santa are not being offered this year. Kids will have an opportunity to see and waive to Santa at the end of the Holiday Lane, as well as drop their letters.
Event Sponsors:
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