Celebrating Christmas on Euclid in Ontario, CA
It’s almost Christmas and I couldn’t be happier. My presents are bought and (mostly) wrapped, my sister baked some delicious cookies and we’ve got the most beautiful Christmas tree.
I’ve also managed to have some fun holiday outings – a visit to the Grand Californian to sip cider and view the tree, a screening of Remember the Night one of my favorite Christmas films and a visit to Ontario.
Ontario? Yup, the town in the Inland Empire is home to one of the merriest Christmas celebrations in SoCal.
Christmas on Euclid is a holiday tradition dating to 1958. Each year in the heart of old town Euclid Avenue is decked out in holiday splendor and celebrations abound. On our visit there was a sing-a-long taking place at this very gazebo. I can’t carry a tune to save my life so I opted for the sweeter option – a candy cane demo at Logan’s Candies.
A few years back I wrote about a visit to the historic candy shop. I was so enamored that I vowed to go back. I’ve kept that vow and this year managed to visit during candy cane time. Logan’s makes thousands of handmade candy canes every year and happily shares the process with the public. It’s quite popular and the tiny shop is stuffed to the brims with folks watching the fascinating process. Last year I got there a bit late and had to be satisfied with standing outside the shop and watching it on a TV screen. This year I made it nice and early and had a primo spot right at the counter.
The entire process is fascinating and and it’s wonderful to see true candy making skills in action. Even better is the fact that I got to try the finished product.
Warm samples are handed out and, let me tell you, there is nothing like warm peppermint. I love a good candy cane but one that’s freshly made is out of this world. For an extra $1.25 I also got to bend my own.
As you can see from the expression on my face it was quite a treat.
After a fun time at Logan’s my family and I headed back to Euclid to visit the life sized nativity scenes. Since 1959 the scenes have been on display in the greenbelt and this year they were lovingly restored. I’d passed by them multiple times but this was the first time I viewed them up close.
These beautiful pieces are the work of Rudolph Vargas a sculptor who worked extensively for Disney. He’s responsible for many figures at Disneyland but his true passion was religious figures. He was commissioned to create these nativity scenes and they made their debut in 1959. After years of wear and tear they were given a full restoration this year. Whether viewing them from a religious or simply artistic perspective they are a true Southern California treasure.
After viewing the nativity scenes we made one final stop at the Ontario Christmas tree.
Could it be anything other than beautiful?
Ontario is great spot to celebrate Christmas. My family and I had a wonderful time and I hope it becomes a new tradition of ours.