City and Chamber Partner to Enhance Holiday Traditions

In our final episode of 2021, podcast host and City Public Information Officer Adam Curtis is joined by Parks, Leisure, and Library Director Laura Wilson and Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melany Edwards-Barton. Together we talk about how the City and Chamber are partnering to combine two of Sierra Vista’s favorite holiday traditions: The City’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Chamber’s annual Christmas Light Parade. The City’s tree lighting has been expanded into a two-day festivity with children’s activities and a holiday market on Friday, December 3, and Saturday, December 4. That has enabled the City to partner with the Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce on its annual Christmas Light Parade, which will now feature a new route running around Veterans Memorial Park on the evening of Saturday, December 4. The Kiwanis Club of Sierra Vista has partnered with the City too by donating a large Christmas tree that will serve as the centerpiece of the newly expanded event.

HIGHLIGTS

• Intro 00:10
• Hi Laura and Melany, welcome to the podcast! (01:25)
• So Melany, let’s start with the parade. Newcomers to Sierra Vista may not know much about its history. Remind us just how long the parade has been a part of our holiday traditions here in Sierra Vista and how it’s changed over the years. (01:31)
• What’s the theme for this year’s parade and how do people participate? (03:49)
• Laura can you describe the City’s tree lighting event and how it is being expanded this year? What do we hope to grow it into as time goes on? (04:32)
  • How partnerships tie into this effort.
  • What we seek to accomplish by bringing in community partners like the Kiwanis Club of Sierra Vista and the Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Melany, what was your reaction to the City’s vision for this event and how do you hope the parade complements these efforts? (12:13)
• The Chamber has some other long-running holiday traditions, plus a new one that began during COVID last year and is continuing this year. Can you tell us a little bit about these other activities and how folks can learn more? (17:47)
• We wrap up sharing what we each love most about the holiday season in Sierra Vista. (23:50)
• Outro (32:39)