Families gather for annual Christmas Strolls
Published 6:59 pm Friday, December 6, 2024
Shangri-La guests enjoy a magical stroll through a Christmas paradise. (Randy Strong/Special to The Orange Leader)
Joey and Crystal Halliburton enjoy a festive stroll with their grandson, Carter Zuniga ,6. (Randy Strong/Special to The Orange Leader)
Strollers enjoy a take a little break at one of the Garden's festive rest areas before continuing along the path of lights. (Randy Strong/Special to The Orange Leader)
Shangri-La's executive director Angie Mason gives a little more illumination to brighten up a section of the trail. (Randy Strong/Special to The Orange Leader)
Families utilize a Christmas ornament backdrop for holiday pictures. (Randy Strong/Special to The Orange Leader)
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By Randy Strong
Special to The Orange Leader
Families, friends and neighbors from around the Golden Triangle came together Tuesday evening at Shangri-La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center beginning the holiday season with the Garden’s annual Christmas Strolls.
Traveling through the transformed landscape strollers enjoy thousands of Christmas lights, holiday flowering displays and colorful decorations. The festive atmosphere also includes dozens of unique Christmas trees decorated by members of the community lining the trails. The trees for this year’s annual Community Decorate a tree Event have been generously sponsored by Chevron Phillips Chemical Orange Plant. Strollers also have the opportunity to purchase hot chocolate and cookies supplied by the Orange Lions Club.
Orange Christian Services, who have partnered with Shangri-La during the Christmas Strolls for many years, greet attendees with warm and cheerful holiday wishes and accept non-perishable food items to support those in greatest need throughout the Orange community. Orange Christian Services Executive Director, Judy Jensen, explains ” our organization will be collecting non-perishable food items and donations during normal garden hours and during the Christmas Strolls throughout Shangri-La’s holiday festivities.”
Tuesday through Saturday each week throughout the Christmas Strolls the Garden has “Senior, Mobility Friendly and Sensitivity Hour” from 5 to 6 p.m.
“This hour is designed with no music, no flashing lights and smaller crowds for guests with mobility challenges or sensory sensitivities and their families,” Shangri-La’s executive director Angie Mason said. “This sensory-friendly atmosphere provides an opportunity to view the lights at dusk.”
Mason goes on to express that there will be a limited number of wheelchairs available in the front office for those who might need use of one.
Throughout the Strolls the Garden hopes to elevate the experience for families and friends by participating during three festive themed weeks where guests can dress for the holidays.
Crazy Christmas Hat Week starts the fun Dec. 3rd-7. Second is “Family Holiday P.J Week,” Dec. 10 -14 and “Ugly Christmas Sweater Week” will be Dec. 17-21.
