Rain Postpones Christmas Tree Lighting In Los Gatos
LOS GATOS (KCBS) - Stormy weather on Friday has forced city leaders in Los Gatos to delay the popular Christmas tree lighting for one week.
Hundreds of children, perhaps thousands, pack Town Plaza Park for the ceremony every year, said town manager Greg Larson.
"This event is for kids and their families and if it's pouring down rain, they're probably not going to come," he said.
"Families coming out and mucking in the mud and getting sopped in the rain isn't really what they wanted to do."
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
The high school band had already canceled when city officials decided to postpone the tree lighting. Other activities, such as the holiday carriage rides, will still go on Friday night, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
And rain or shine, the holiday parade will still take place Saturday, Larson said, even as the city activated its emergency response teams because of the storm.
"We are expecting a dramatically increased flow off of the mountains from all of the creeks and tributaries that flow into Los Gatos, Saratoga, San Jose and Monte Sereno," Larson said.
Public works crews have been cleaning leaves and other debris out of storm drains and looking out for trees that could lose branches or fall as the ground saturates.
"Our emergency response protocol will continue through the weekend to make sure we're doing all we can to avoid any potential flooding or tree hazards throughout the town," Larson said.
The Valley Transportation Authority also delayed its historic Holly Trolley by a week. VTA officials said it would start running on Dec. 7, weather permitting.
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