A new contest is in the planning stages for students during the
Christmas season from local schools, both public and private.
Schools will be invited to send students to decorate trees and
compete for cash prizes of $500 to $1,000. The trees will be
displayed downtown, next to the community center. A number of
events based on the Hometown Holidays theme are planned.
A new contest is in the planning stages for students during the Christmas season from local schools, both public and private. Schools will be invited to send students to decorate trees and compete for cash prizes of $500 to $1,000. The trees will be displayed downtown, next to the community center.
A number of events based on the Hometown Holidays theme are planned.
Currently the event is being sponsored by the Rotary Club, but organizers hope to bring more people on board.
The event is called Hometown Holiday and organizers hope that this will foster a sense of local community and encourage families to gather and enjoy a festive holiday event in the downtown area, its businesses and restaurants.
Hometown Holiday will be held from Saturday, Dec. 6, through Friday, Jan. 2, at the Community and Cultural Center. Dec. 6, will be the day where the students decorate the trees. Saturday, Jan. 3, the trees will be taken down. The event is free to the public, who will also be judges for Hometown Holiday.
The idea for Hometown Holidays came primarily from San Jose’s Christmas in the Park.
“We are trying to get folks downtown for the holidays,” said Steve Schwab, retired Morgan Hill chief of police who is currently working for the recreation department. “We’re aiming for a more hometown feeling.”
Event organizers hope to have 19 schools from the Morgan Hill area, both public and private, participate in the contest. All levels will be included from elementary to high school.
“We will send out notices to schools in September,” said Bob Foster, heading up organizing the event. The schools will then have until Oct. 1 to enter in the contest.
“We will send $100 to each school for materials needed for decorating the tree,” he said.
The money will be donated by the Morgan Hill Rotary Club. Along with the money, the schools will also be provided with a tree stand and lights to decorate the tree.
“The idea is to have a fun event and to give all of our citizens a fun time,” Schwab said.
Organizers of the event are still trying to line up sponsors for the event. Currently they are in talks with the City of Morgan Hill, the Chamber of Commerce, the Morgan Hill Community Foundation, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, the Kiwanis Club and the Morgan Hill Teachers Aid Association.
They also hope to get local business involved. They would like the businesses to be drop off points for ballots that the public will use to vote for their favorite tree. Event organizers hope to have local businesses provide coupons on the ballots, redeemable at their stores.
Schools will determine how many students will participate, though there will only be one tree per school. The participants will compete for cash for their schools: $1000 for first and $500 for second. The rest of the schools would receive $100 for participating.
The music will play on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons and evenings and Sunday afternoons. If live music is not available then recorded music will play during those times.
Hometown Holiday is still in the planing stages. According to Foster, the event is staring out simply, but he hopes that is will grow. He could still use some help. Foster is seeking people to donate trees and money. The organizers would also appreciate donations of time. Anyone who wishes to either donate or volunteer should call Bob Foster at 779-2106.
