Residents invited to holiday kick off at City Hall

A holiday sing-along, Christmas tree lighting and more will highlight Tuesday’s city council work session when it adjourns for some holiday cheer.

Maricopa residents are invited to attend City Hall’s 2013 Holiday kick-off event. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the new City Hall, festivities will include holiday displays, a performance by the Maricopa Chorus, and the first public Maricopa tree-lighting.

“With the new City Hall this is the first time we could invite the public to the event,” Councilwoman Peggy Chapados said Wednesday.

In the past the tree-lightings and holiday celebrations were limited because of size and restrictions of the old city hall and the trees were pretty small, she said.

“This tree is kind of special,” Chapados said of the 12-foot artificial tree. “We decided on an artificial one because there are too many problems with keeping a tree alive. This is more cost effective and we can keep it for years to come.”

Maricopa Chorus, led by chorus founder and director John Janzen, will be performing holiday favorites for the audience including “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Carol of the Bells.”

“We’re preparing for our first concert, and are going to do a couple Christmas numbers we’ve been practicing,” Janzen said.

Members of the Maricopa police and fire departments also will be in attendance to take donations for their fundraising projects.

Maricopa Fire Department’s Ride for a Toy will be accepting unwrapped gifts for kids and teens. There will be another collection 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at Pacana Park. Donations of non-perishable foods also accepted. Those making donations at the Pacana Park event will get to ride a fire truck. Donations will benefit F.O.R. Maricopa.

And, the Maricopa Police Department’s Shop with a Cop will be accepting cash or check donations. 

This is the second year the police department has participated in a “shop with a cop” program, which pairs kids with police officers and provides them with some holiday fun and Walmart gift cards to buy holiday presents for themselves and family.

“Last year we were able to have about 12 kids and raised $3,000 for them to shop. So far this year we have raised almost $10,000 and look to double or triple the amount of kids,” said Ricardo Alvarado, police spokesman.