Salinas’ 9th annual Christmas tree lighting

Every year, Christmas time comes a little early in downtown Salinas.

It’s the ninth annual Tree for Peace Dedication and Tree Lighting Ceremony in Salinas City Center and this year, it’s bigger and better than ever. This year’s Christmas tree in Downtown Salinas is lit up and spreading holiday cheer! Hundreds came out to see the tree light up, as well as hear music and singing from the Alisal Center for Fine Arts and Arts Council for Monterey County. Speakers included Students the Salinas High School FFA, Pastor Steve Lundin from the First United Methodist Church of Salinas, Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter, and Salinas City Council Member Steve McShane. Like the name of the ceremony, they brought a message of peace.

“Here in Salinas, this is the community getting behind a peaceful holiday season and a peaceful 2018,” said Salinas City Council Member Steve McShane.

“We’ve always you know we’ve had our issues but we’ve worked through them. We work together as a community. The whole community. This is not just the one side of town, this is a whole community working together and that’s what counts,” said Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter.

This year’s Christmas tree was brought all the way from Mossy Rock, Washington.

Those in attendance were given a ribbon to write a message of peace and hang on the tree. A very cool idea in a town where peace is everything we want for Christmas.