Mount Helix Lights Up the Night with Song

Approximately 500 people showed up to the Mt. Helix Park Foundation's annual Christmas Caroling event Sunday night, according to event organizers. As friends and family gathered to sing seasonal favorites, a clear night sky featured twinkling stars and a gentle breeze.

The foundation has hosted the annual event for 20 years. The perfect weather was considered an early Christmas present as the event was rained out for the last two years.

"Normally it's cold. People wore scarves, coats and gloves," said Tracey Stotz, executive director of the Mt. Helix Foundation. "It's a real blessing."

Stotz said traditionally hot cocoa runs out early in the event. This year, however, there was cocoa to be had by everyone. More evidence of good weather: Children's wardrobes ran the gamut. Kids ran around in summer dresses, shorts and short-sleeved shirts while others wore light jackets and sweaters.

Throughout the night, the common refrain, no matter which carol the crowd sang, was what wonderful weather graced the event.

"It's a beautiful night," said Lee Holter, a SPRITES member who was distributing raffle tickets for $1. Winners took home gift baskets as well as Starbucks and Brigantine Seafood Restaurant gift cards. "It's the clearest it's every been."

SPRITES, an East County mother-daughter philanthropic organization, donated baked goods and provided manpower. Cosmos contributed coffee and the Brigantine hot cocoa.

"It's a great family community," said event organizer Stacey Walsh, whose husband, Patrick, played Santa at the event. Walsh, who was born and raised in the area, said it was the best turnout in years. "We want to keep it community hometown-ish. Everybody here knows everybody."

The popularity of the event surprised Walsh.

"We thought we'd have maybe 150," said Walsh, who, like Stotz, wore a multicolored Christmas light necklace. "That's why we only had one shuttle."

As such, it took some time for revelers to arrive as the Goldfield Stage shuttle bus drove people from the parking area at the San Miguel Fire Station on Vivera Drive, to the park. By approximately 6:30 p.m., the shuttle had already made at least five roundtrips to deliver attendees.

Upon arrival, newcomers anxiously joined the rest of the Mt. Helix Amphitheatre in song. Community music director Gina Seashore led the crowd and the group of carolers onstage. "We were so fortunate to have her," said Walsh.

Two tried-and-true favorites – "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – were crowd favorites, mainly because of the response received by younger carolers. Children yelled "Stop!" along with the traffic cop in "Frosty" and cheeringly offered analogies to Rudolph's nose.

And when it was time for Santa Clause to come to town, Santa actually joined the carolers for a song.

Although carolers weren't always in tune nor were they all always singing – some were stuck for the lyrics to requested songs – the spirit of the season infiltrated even the Grinchiest of hearts.

By 7:45 p.m., the crowd thinned as families made their ways home to tuck their children into bed.

Walsh said the Mt. Helix Park Foundation hosts several events during the year, including an Easter ceremony and an annual fundraiser in August called "The HeART of Mt. Helix."