Santa Claus & New Light Displays Coming To Downtown SLO This Weekend
Jarrod Zinn
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – As you let your thanksgiving meal digest, you may want to cue your holiday playlists and get ready for an evening in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Now that everyone has had their turkey and some families may be dozing off as we speak, Santa and his elves have been busy preparing for their first appearance in downtown San Luis Obispo, this weekend.
The lights are hung at Mission Plaza, and downtown SLO is ready for 2025’s holiday season.
“We love the community and it’s so rewarding to see everybody walk through,” says Maggie Kovach, Downtown SLO’s Events Manager. “But it certainly couldn’t happen without the hard work of our team, the city, and all of our sponsors.”
Santa will hold his daily hours at Mission Plaza from 1pm to 6:30pm this year, so plenty of kids can have a chance to deliver their wishes directly to him.
“Everything opens up on Friday,” says Kovach. “Santa rides in on a fire truck and greets just really excited kids. We’ll kick the house off at one and then at 5 p.m. we have our light up the plaza ceremony.”
After the sun goes down some of the magic will really kick in here at the San Luis Obispo Creek Walk with a new overhead pathway of lights, fixtures that will enhance the depth at the creek bed, and holiday patterns on the Warden Bridge.
“It’s wonderful to come every year, but it’s always nice if there’s something new that shows up,” says Justine Carlson, who lives in San Luis Obispo.
“Well, I just love how quaint and cozy it is and how lovely the store fronts are,” says Fen Zhao, who is visiting from Los Angeles. “I’m from L.A., so it’s not quite as cozy, let’s just say.”
For the Black Friday weekend, a ‘Shop Local’ contest commemorates Santa’s arrival, with a chance to win a grand prize.
“We actually have a whole activation going on through the weekend for ‘Shop Small Saturday,’” says Kovach. “If people stop by the downtown. So office between on Chorro Street, between Eureka and FedEx, you can pick up a tote bag. Every three stores that you visit, you will actually be entered in a giveaway with a grand prize that we’re really excited about. A one night stay at Hotel Cerro and some other very fun things.”
Whether you’re doing some of your holiday shopping or taking the family out for fine dining and quality time in the Central Coast outdoor environment, downtown San Luis Obispo has something for everyone.
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