SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood will kick off the holiday season Dec. 5 with its annual Tree Lighting & Christmas Village, featuring festive activities, holiday shopping and a visit from Santa Claus.
The free event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m., with the tree lighting ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Piazza della Famiglia.
The neighborhood will be decorated with holiday lights and 10-foot-tall nutcrackers. Visitors can enjoy live holiday music, seasonal food and drinks, and a Christmas Village featuring local artisans selling fresh wreaths, Christmas trees, specialty foods, jewelry, clothing, artwork and other gifts.
Santa Claus will also make an appearance. Children can drop off letters to Santa in the Big Red Mailbox at Piazza della Famiglia beginning Dec. 1. Letters submitted by Dec. 6 will receive a response.
The Little Italy Association is also collecting new, unwrapped toys from Nov. 20 through Dec. 16 for foster children supported by New Alternatives Inc. Donations for the Little Italy Toy Drive can be dropped off at participating neighborhood businesses and the Little Italy Mercato.
The annual toy drive has collected more than 6,000 toys over the past decade, according to organizers.
For more information, visit littleitalysd.com.
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