Santa Claus is coming to town, and is scheduled to make three appearances in the Big Bear Valley, starting with Friday’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Big Bear Lake. Pine Knot Avenue and Village Drive, in Big Bear Lake’s Village, will be closed to traffic as of 4pm on Friday, to accommodate the annual tree lighting ceremony, which begins at 4:30pm, and will feature music by Art Harriman and hot beverages provided by the Lions Club. Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to make their grand entrance, atop a firetruck, at 5:15pm on Friday. Following the tree lighting, Santa will be available for visits, at Santa’s house in the Village, until 9pm.
Families are also encouraged to bring their cameras to Saturday’s tree lighting ceremony in Big Bear City, which will also feature an appearance by Santa. The East Valley event on the 28th begins at 5pm at the Big Bear City Fire Department, located at 301 W. Big Bear Boulevard, with the tree lighting scheduled for 5:30pm. Hot coffee and cider will be provided, and attendees are asked to bring a plate of cookies to share, as well as wish lists for Santa.
Santa will also be making a special appearance at the Barnstorm Restaurant on Saturday morning, November 28. As his sleigh is being readied for the Christmas holiday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Barnstorm at the airport in Big Bear City via helicopter—so attendees should arrive by 7:45am to see Santa ushered into Big Bear via his pilot friend Travis Taylor. Santa will then have breakfast at the Barnstorm until 9:45am, so families are invited to join him, and reminded to bring a camera.
For more from Santa, tune in to Kat Sawyer’s “Tuned In on the Bear,” which airs in the 5pm hour on Wednesdays (and again on Sundays at 7am) on 93.3 FM.
