By: Stolie Erickson | Writer
December 12, 2019
It’s everyone’s favorite time of year again: the holidays! Everyone building Christmas spirit and feeling cheerful. The annual Puttin’ On the Glitz, localized here in San Clemente, is an event that took place this past weekend on December 7th, starting at 5 pm.
This event is sponsored each year by a nonprofit organization by the name of San Clemente Downtown Business Association, and takes place on Del Mar street. In addition to this organization, there are also teens and adults who volunteer at the event to help with booths or managing other activities.
“I am a part of the Assistance League Organization which basically gives service opportunities to teenagers like me. This weekend I worked the train station booth at Puttin’ On the Glitz from 4:30-6:30,” San Clemente High School junior Mia O’brien said. “It’s so rewarding seeing all the kids faces and the joy they were feeling.”
The street was sparkling with Christmas lights and was topped off with a Christmas tree which was lit up at the event as well. Some even come to this event just to admire the organization and physical appearance of it all—an impressively assembled event for a good cause.
In addition to the typical options such as dining out and shopping, it included a night full of Christmas carolers, train and carriage rides for kids, and a meeting with Santa Claus! There was, as there is each year, also sledding for younger children, along with the display of the movie “Elf” multiple times throughout the event.
In addition to booths from organizations within the city, San Clemente High School had some as well. This included the SCHS Girls’ Lacrosse Team, Cheer Team, and aquatics program, each with their own booths with their own festivities.
“My team and I made cards for the event, and I got to know people better; I found out that some people are insanely good at it,” SCHS senior, and member of the SCHS Girls’ Lacrosse team, Gaby Perez said. “We sold them at the Glitz as our annual fundraiser for the program, and it was so fun to be able to say that all cards and mistletoe bundles were made by SCHS GLAX!”
Locals from every nook and cranny of the city go to this event as a way to get into the holiday mood and appreciate the beautiful world and people around them, finding the “village character” within themselves in our little “village by the sea.”
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