Manteca Recreation & Community Services is staging an expanded Christmas at the Center on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The family event — that also includes the opportunity to patronize food trucks and vendors — takes place at the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St. from 6 to 8 p.m.

The tree lighting is at 6 p.m. with free activities at 6:30 p.m.

Besides arts, crafts and such there will be selfie stations as well as character meet and greets.

*Say Happy Holidays to Mickey and Minnie at the Recreation Courtyard.

*Visit Santa in the Manteca Senior Center. 

*Hi-Five Parky in the Snow Play Area.

*Take a selfie with The Grinch at the Recreation office.

*Hug Jack and Sally at the HR office.

*See Anna, Elsa, and Olaf in the City Clerk’s Office.

*Enjoy a Charlie Brown Christmas in I.T.

*Visit Candy Land at the Finance Department.

Vendors and food trucks can be found in the south parking lot of the Manteca Senior Center, behind the police station.

Food trucks include Frostbite, Ty’s Gourmet Dogs, Dough’in Batter, Little Taste of Culture, El Comalon, Jacko’s Tacos, Fruitopia Fruit Bowls, El Jr Express Kitchen, Tacos Limonese, Meva’s Tacos.

Vendors include Moondewshop, Asili Essentials, Saucin’ It Up Fried Chicken, Fab Five Creations, Sale’s Gourmet Kettle Corn, Giant Print 3D, Vigil’s Gourmet Kettle Corn, This Momma Don’t Play, and Lemonade Express.

Citywide Christmas

decorating contest

You can register for the annual citywide Christmas decoration contest through Dec. 16

Categories include best light display, best theme, largest inflatable, vintage Christmas, and Judges’ Choice 

Participants must live within Manteca city limits.

Winners will be announced on Dec. 20.

To register email recreation@manteca.gov or call 209-456-8600.

Christmas parade & 

Christmas in the Park

The longest running holiday tradition in Manteca — the downtown Christmas parade — returns for the 52nd year on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m.

It has been staged since its inception by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.

The twilight parade route is down Yosemite Avenue from Library Park to Manteca High where it will end on Garfield Avenue. 

The event goes hand-in-hand with the business organization’s Christmas in the Park the same day from noon to 8 p.m. at Library Park.

The eight hour event features craft vendors, rides, games, food trucks, vendors, and Santa.

Booths for homemade crafts are $75 for chamber members while non-profit booths are $50 for chamber members. Booths in both categories for non-chamber members are $25 more.

Commercial booths are $100 and food truck/food booth spaces are $125 for chamber members. Non-chamber members are $50 for both categories.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Christmas Around the World.”

The entry fee is $50. Entry forms must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m.

Parade and Christmas in the Park sponsors are Yolie’s Towing, Valley Strong Credit Union, Triplex Solutions, Dairy Queen, South San Joaquin Irrigation District, Brocchini Family Partnership, and Cruising Cones 6.

Application forms for both events are on the chamber’s website at manteca.org.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com