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Medford residents will be dazzled by a sparkling Winter Lights Festival starting Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Pear Blossom Park. This is the fifth year in Pear Blossom Park for the festival, which will feature Santa Claus, the North Medford High Marching Band, a candy cane hunt and finally the illumination of Medford’s designated Christmas tree, which sits at the north end of the park next to Fourth Street. Previous festivals were held at Hawthorne Park and Vogel Plaza. Plenty of activities will be available for all the little elves of Medford. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., the Lithia 4 Kids Foundation will sponsor a coloring contest for 4- to 12-year-old children at Lithia Headquarters, 150 North Bartlett St. Participants are eligible to win a bicycle, and the winners will be announced prior to the illumination. This is the fifth year for the coloring contest. The 16th-annual Candy Cane Hunt for kids starts at 4:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Pear Blossom Park stage. At 5:45 p.m., Santa arrives on stage, accompanied by the North Medford High Marching Band. Family photos can be taken with Santa in the lobby of the Sky Oak Financial office, across from the park. Other performances leading up to the illumination include the Medford Parks and Recreation Discovery Preschool around 5 p.m., Once Upon a Song at 5:15 p.m. and the Fusion Force Dancers at 5:35 p.m. The grand illumination will begin around 6 p.m. The Norway spruce, and the smaller Nordmann firs and Engelmann spruce, will glow with thousands of LEDS. Other activities include a City of Medford fire engine and police car display and community partner booths. Tasty Treasures and Heavenly Nuts will be the food vendors, and Starbucks will provide free hot chocolate while supplies last. Medford Parks and Recreation will coordinate the events, and the illumination is sponsored by the city of Medford and Lithia Motors. The day will beging with a popular breakfast with Santa at the Santo Community Center gymnasium, featuring Human Bean, and Shari’s Café and Pies. The event already is sold out with 350 registrants. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.