Amid ‘Open House,’ Benicia to flip switch Friday on holiday decorations

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

The weather may threaten rain, but First Street is gearing up for sunny dispositions. Benicia’s annual holiday festivities officially begin Friday, including the traditional lighting of the city Christmas tree.

And rain or shine, the festivities will go forward, Benicia Main Street Executive Director Nancy Martinez said.

“(Rain) will give them more time to shop with their favorite merchants. To get out of the rain, they can go inside,” she said.

Main Street, which partners with the city Parks and Recreation Department for the event, also organizes the annual Holiday Open House, with specials offered by participating merchants, wine stations situated along First Street and a drawing for a $500 downtown shopping spree.

The festivities will also feature the holiday music of Kris Kringle and the Mistletones, Martinez said.

She said the tree lighting itself, at the very end of First Street, will take place at about 6:30 p.m. “The mayor usually does the opening, and she will flip the switch to turn the lights on the tree.

Horse-drawn carriage rides, organized by the city Rotary Club, will be available as long as it isn’t raining too hard. “Sprinkles, yes; if it’s a hard rain, no, they can’t have the horses out there,” Martinez said.

“It’s just a great night to be out, rain or shine, to kick off the holiday season,” she said.

The wine stations will be located at the First Street Depot, 90 First St., and at 501 First St. and 831 First St.

Benicia State Parks Association is joining the festivities this year: The Benicia Capitol State Historic Park and Fischer-Hanlon House will feature docents dressed in period attire, serving cookies and warm cider from the house’s wood-burning stove.

Friday also will mark the long-awaited debut of the lights on First Street that were installed as the first act of the newly established Benicia Business Improvement District.

“It will be a big night on Friday,” Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani said. He said the lights will go up Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Giuliani said through winter the lights will be on from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. As part of monthly maintenance, their timing will adjust according to the daylight hours of the seasons.

“I think we can’t applaud the merchants enough to their commitment to self-assess themselves. It’s a great kudos to them,” he said.

For those intending to attend Friday’s evening festivities, one thing to keep in mind is that First Street will have no parking, and the street will be closed to traffic beginning at 5 p.m. Any vehicles parked on First Street after 5 will be towed.

While parking may be a little tight, SolTrans is offering a special $2 discounted pass for unlimited rides on the three bus routes that serve the Benicia Holiday Open House and tree lighting from 5-9 p.m.

Advanced purchase is required through soltransride.com.

“It’s such a good-feeling night,” Martinez said. “Everybody is in the best of moods. It’s magical.”

If You Go
The Holiday Open House and tree lighting will take place Friday on First Street from 6-9 p.m., with the tree lighting at approximately 6:30 p.m.