The City of Portage invited families and friends to the annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 7.
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta enjoys how these events connect people during one of the best times of the year.
“We love doing these events for our Portage community,” Bonta said. “When it starts to get colder and the sun goes down sooner, we might have to adjust accordingly. There’s something to be said about having a special occasion where we all can gather together and celebrate Christmas with this parade and the lighting of the tree.”
Bonta applauds all of the volunteers, vendors, and parade participants for putting together an electric night in the Portage community.
“The Kiwanis Club of Portage really helped put this whole night together,” Bonta said. “The Portage Event Partnership also plays a big part in volunteering for city events. We’re grateful to work together with them in our city. Both teams do a great job working together as well.”
For multiple years, the parade was on a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that the celebration has been back to normal since 2022, Bonta is pleased to see how much this event has gravitated toward families in local communities.
One person who has been anticipating this holiday parade is Officer Rodolfo Chavez. With this year being the first time that he’s stood by as an officer at the parade, he views this night as a way to bring some holiday cheer to the city.
“This is a great way for us to get back into the community and have some fun,” Chavez said. “We’re here to make sure everything goes smoothly. That means we don’t just want to make sure the parade is safe, but also a night that a lot of these families can enjoy.”
While the holiday experience might be different for every person, the City of Portage also wants to provide this opportunity for people who might not have a chance to celebrate as much.
“Some of us might see the holidays as just another day,” Chavez said. “It might be harder for some people to celebrate like others, so I think this event helps to offer something fun for them as well. It’s a special feeling when you can come out and celebrate it with your own family. Spending time together and seeing the little kids smile is something that makes me happy to be a part of this.”
On top of putting together a memorable Christmas festival, the City of Portage considers this event to be a culmination of the year with the people who support the events in this community.
“I think it’s pretty cool for families and friends to not just watch the tree get lit, but also have a festival to enjoy what this community has to offer,” Bonta said. “We’ve had so many people from the community and even nearby communities make an appearance at events in our city this year. This is a wonderful way to close it by capturing the moment with our favorite people and celebrating the season.”
For more information on the City of Portage, you can visit its website.