College to light up campus, raise funds
Popular Santa attraction to draw crowds
BARSTOW • Tuesday evening as the sun sets, the plaza at Barstow Community College will twinkle as a bright spot as hundreds of Christmas lights are set aglow.
The eighth annual Festival of Lights and Learning will feature holiday activities like decorating stockings with jewels and glitter glue (for $2) or stringing up lights in honor of someone’s memory (for $25) — all to raise money for student scholarships, said Ajia McCoy, BCC Associated Student Body student trustee.
Last year the festival, hosted by the non-profit Barstow College Foundation, raised $10,000, according to spokeswoman Maureen Stokes and the college aims to exceed that goal this year.
“We know that we have a need because we have so many students in school right now,” said Stokes.
The ever-popular Santa Claus will be taking photographs with children against a snow-covered gingerbread and candy cane backdrop this year, said McCoy. The college ASB will also be giving away 200 goodie bags with an activity book, crayons, a bookmark and candy, McCoy said.
In addition to transforming into an illuminated campus, the college will also host several vendors selling crafts, clothing, and food. And Christmas music — of many varieties — will fill the air and aim to stir up some holiday cheer.
Groups ranging from the Barstow Junior High School band to the First Baptist Church youth choir will perform carols and Christmas-themed songs, said BCC choir director Amy Ross, who’s students will also perform. One of the songs the college choir will sing puts a twist on holiday classics the Nutcracker and Jingle Bells, said Ross.
“It’s a really cute little song,” she said. There will be fewer musical performances this year, Ross noted, allowing the crowd to mill around and visit the vendors without a non-stop performance going on. She’s glad that will also give her a chance to peruse the stands.
“(They have) just a mish-mash of stuff which is a lot of fun,” Ross said.
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Festival of Lights and Learning
When: Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (lighting at dusk).
Where: Barstow Community College plaza, 2700 Barstow Road.
Cost: Free.
Events: Gift bag giveaway to first 200 children, photos with Santa Claus, craft, clothing and food vendors, stocking decorating for $2, raffle tickets, and musical performances by various local groups.
