The Westgate Hotel
San Diego Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Westgate Hotel has an annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. This is the San Diego event that truly signals the beginning of the Christmas season.
Here in Southern California signs of Winter are very subtle indeed. We do have a few trees and plants that blaze orange and then drop their leaves in the Autumn. But we don’t get any snow except in the nearby mountain town of Julian where they serve the most wonderful apple pie a la mode. Julian is a rather time-consuming trek up into the mountains, especially when there’s snow and all the sledding aficionados decide to go all at the same time. And because the highways to Julian are two-lane country roads, you might end up spending more time in stop-and-go traffic than actually sitting down to a piece of pie and hot mug of apple cider.
Thankfully for those of us who enjoy holiday revelry, the Westgate Hotel in San Diego has nurtured a tradition of Christmas tree lights, nutcracker ballet dancers and mugs of hot cocoa.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is one that you don’t want to miss. The event staff really do a great job with this seasonal party. First, you’ll walk into the Grand Lobby. There you’ll notice all the wonderful holiday decorations that turn this French-influenced hotel into a lovely December venue. You are greeted with a glass of champagne and you can also help yourself to special cookies and desserts. Hot chocolate and tea are served if you would like to warm your hands around a nice mug of something warm. An orchestra or musical group plays Christmas music in the background as you enjoy your appetizers and refreshments. There is usually a song or two with dancers who treat the crowd to bits and pieces of the Nutcracker Ballet. And then with flare, the lights on the Christmas tree in the lobby blaze on.
Westgate Hotel San Diego Nutcracker Dancers
If you are a San Diegan and have never seen the Westgate Hotel’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, it’s sadly not happening during 2020 due to Covid-19. In 2005, our award-winning editor, Patty Mooney, edited a video for Westgate. It features the beauty of the lobby, the crowd enjoying the venue, the dancers and the tree lighting. It’s a vintage glimpse of a Christmas past for the whole family to enjoy.
