SONdance is marking its 21st season of putting Christ back into Christmas.
Jolynda Lyon — the founder and director of SONdance Ministries — has offered dance programs for the past 32 years that have given local children a Christian alternative to what some parents might find too provocative at other dance studios.
Starting in 2003, SONdance studies started staging a Christmas ballet telling the story of Christ through dance.
This year’s performance — “The Heart of Christmas” — is being staged Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m. at the Christian Worship Center, 785 Button Ave., Manteca.
Tickets are $15 at the door.
For additional information contact SONdance at (209) 823-1470 or www.sondance.org.
Twilight parade and
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
