December proved to be a festive month as Soboba Tribal members celebrated the season in several ways. The Sixth Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Light Parade took place on Dec. 6 at the Soboba Sports Complex. Food and craft vendors were on site from 4 p.m. on, along with booths set up with holiday-themed games for all ages. The tree lighting countdown commenced once the final vehicle in the light parade had arrived from The Oaks staging area. Candy had been tossed to spectators lined up along the parade route.
Prizes were given to the top three most festive vehicles, and first place went to the Placencia family. Second place was earned by the Medina family, and third place was given to Bianca Machado who highlighted “SpongeBob SquarePants” in perfectly lighted fashion.
Activities Director Jen Garcia said, “On behalf of the Parks & Rec Department staff, I would just like to thank the Department of Public Safety, Cultural Resource Department, Soboba Foundation, Tribal Council, Tribal Executive Office, Soboba Tribal Preschool, Family Services and RSO for participating in the Soboba Light Parade and Tree lighting ceremony.”
Next up was the Soboba Tribal Christmas Party, also hosted by the Parks & Recreation Department at the Sports Complex on Dec. 14. Borrowing from the theme of “The Grinch That Stole Christmas,” there were spectacular decorations throughout the gymnasium. Many of the crafts offered in the huge tent set up outside on the basketball courts played into the Dr. Seuss character. There was great food, lots of raffles, along with upbeat holiday tunes played by DJ Mike Nevarez who wished a Merry Christmas and many blessings to everyone attending.
A coloring contest for several age groups brought out some of the children’s competitive side while others were content waiting in line to get their face painted by Greyzie or have a balloon animal of their choice made by Freckles. Professional photos were available with Santa and the Grinch and families lined up to get their permanent memento of the special day.
“We want to thank Mike Nevarez for donating his time to DJ and emcee the Tribal Christmas Party and Ms. Anita Morillo and the Tribal kitchen for making a delish turkey dinner,” Garcia said. The staff also thanked the Soboba Foundation for donating the services of Joe Sweets 951 food truck to provide funnel cake desserts and Soboba Tribal TANF for helping at Santa’s Workshop.
Bianca Machado, who was born and raised on the Soboba Reservation, was enjoying the party. She had participated in the Soboba Gives Back turkey meal distributions in November and the Unstuff the Bus events earlier in December for the first time.
“I had always known that the Soboba Foundation helps the community, and I appreciate how much the Tribe and the community work together,” she said. “By helping out, I learned firsthand how important their work is.”
On Dec. 20, the Soboba Tribal Preschool presented its winter performances, and the Sports Complex gym bleachers were filled with smiling family members and friends who came to enjoy the little ones singing their hearts out on the stage.
A blessing by Soboba’s Damon Miranda started the program, followed by a social bird song with his son Joseph, who is a student in the pre-kindergarten class.
The preschoolers, with help from teacher Julissa Garcia and aide Jess Thompson, stood inside huge, decorated boxes to sing about being the cutest present. That was followed by their energetic presentation of “Jingle Bell Rock” as they donned their sunglasses while ringing a strip of handbells.
“Good job, everyone,” said Preschool Administrator Lenora “Ponie” Mojado as the youngest students exited the stage.
The pre-k kids were dressed in oversized Christmas trees made from construction paper to perform “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.” Assisted by teacher Ana Garcia and aide Alaina Adkins, they went on to sing and dance to “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
“Amazing job, pre-k!” Mojado said.
Kindergarten students, dressed in their holiday finery of red and green velvet dresses and skirts on some of the girls and dress shirts and ties for some of the boys, were led by teacher Laura Aldrete and aide Elena Vega-Castello. Some students wore their favorite Christmas sweaters for the event. They performed “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” in front of a huge backdrop of a friendly hippo. They had great dance moves while singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and sang their hearts out to “Feliz Navidad.”
“Way to go, kindergartners,” Mojado told them when they finished.
Before releasing the children to their families, she announced a surprise appearance by none other than Santa Claus, who posed for photos and gave out treat bags to each student and candy canes to siblings who were included in some of the photos.
“We wish you all a happy holiday and New Year,” Mojado said.
Decorations on the front of the stage and around the room highlighted the talents of the young students. A “Kindergarten’s Nice List” was posted that everyone in the class signed. A poster by the preschool class posed the question, “Would your parents be on the nice or naughty list and why?” Noah answered, “They’ll be on the nice list because they love me.” Other “nice” nods from the kids went to the parents who found the time to play with them. Allen’s reply to the question was, “Mom and dad and Jeffrey and Beany – we’re all on the nice list.”
