Roundup

Bryce Alderton

The wind whipped, favorite holiday tunes like “Jingle Bells” and “Here

Comes Santa Claus” filled the night air and fathers had sons sitting on

their shoulders as they welcomed the start of the holiday season,

Huntington Beach style.

It was all a part of the Huntington Youth Shelter’s fifth annual Light

a Light of Love Pier Lighting, held along Main Street and the Huntington

Beach Pier last Sunday night.

The night featured a parade followed by the lighting of the snowflakes

on the pier.

Mayor Pam Julien Houchen sat in a car, waving to the crowd gathered

along both sides of Main Street, wishing everyone a happy holiday.

An even bigger celebrity, Santa Claus, followed in a Huntington Beach

Fire truck to the song “Jingle Bells.”

As Santa headed toward the pier, parade watchers quickly scrambled to

Pier Plaza to grab a seat on a bench to get the best view to watch the

snowflakes light up.

The Springer family was fortunate to get one of the front-row benches

to enjoy the snowflakes.

They have been coming to the event for three years.

“It’s a nice thing for the kids,” said Eric Springer, who was joined

Sunday night by wife Sally, daughters Samantha and Madison, and son

Chase.

He watched as his children played in the grass near the pier.

“They’re running around, going nuts,” he said.

Jo Lewis, Sally Springer’s mother who volunteers at the youth shelter,

called the night “a great cause.”

I just hope the merchants in the area start buying [snowflakes] now,”

Lewis said.

The Orange County Song and Dance Company and the Huntington Beach High

School drill team delighted spectators with dance routines and songs

before the countdown to the pier lighting.

The crowd chanted, “Three, two, one . . .” and cheered as the pier

lights were turned off and the snowflakes shone their white lights.

Kelly Blachford saw the snowflakes light up for the first time Sunday

night after living in Huntington Beach for 17 years.

“The lights are beautiful. This is fun,” Blachford said.