Document text
A crowd in the hundreds flocked to downtown Medford to kick their holiday spirit into high gear. Braving frigid temperatures and looming rains, kids and kids-at-heart filled the grassy stage of Pear Blossom Park in the Medford Commons Saturday evening, eagerly awaiting a chance to celebrate the holidays with Jolly Old St. Nick and to see Medford’s 40-foot Norway Spruce adorned with thousands of bright LEDs. Medford Parks and Recreation Director Rich Rosenthal estimated crowd turnout for 2018’s Winter Lights Festival to be well over 500 people, if not closer to 1,000. He described it as one of the better turnouts in the five years since the festival moved to one of Medford’s newest parks near the Lithia headquarters. Sporting blue-and-white shades and a Menorah-themed blazer and tie, Rosenthal told the crowd he’s looking forward to the first day of Hanukkah today, and the big bowl of matzo ball soup. With the tree lit, preschooler Aria Hurd waited in line with her parents Natalie and Bobby to ask Santa for “a mirror” and “a sitter.” Natalie clarified she means a vanity, further adding that they’re planning to give her one on the first day of Hanukkah. “We do both Hanukkah and Christmas,” Natalie Hurd said. Santa arrived by 5:45 on a “sleigh” in the form of a bright red 1959 Chevy Impala convertible, lent by Rich and Glenda Wilson. Rosenthal said it’s the second year Santa’s arrived at the festival by classic car. Also in line for Santa was 6-year-old Sophia Harper, a first-grader at Oak Grove Elementary. She said she wants Hatchimals and a Baby Alive doll, even though her mom, Nicole Harper, reminded her that she’s already got a doll like that. “Umm, another one,” Harper said. As he sat on his mother Sunny Fox’s shoulders, 5-year-old Thomas said that he was hoping to ask Santa for “all the stuff he likes.” Distracted by the holiday music, lights and smell of cinnamon from the nearby Heavenly Nutz stand, Fox plied Thomas for some of the toys he’s thinking of. Rock’em Sock’em Robots were one, along with a “buddy axe.” “He likes Halloween right now,” Fox said, laughing. Zulma Larios said it was the first time she’d brought her daughters, ages 9, 4 and 2, to the festival, but said she thinks she’ll come back. “We just needed a boost to get in the holiday spirit,” Larios said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @ MTCrimeBeat .