Celebrate Thanksgiving this week, then get ready for a busy month beginning this weekend when the city of Tehachapi makes shopping local even better with the inaugural Reindeer Rush beginning Nov. 29.
The holiday calendar is brim full on the weekend of Dec. 7-8, with events downtown and elsewhere.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:
Reindeer Rush scavenger hunt
The city of Tehachapi is launching its first-ever “Reindeer Rush” Christmas Scavenger Hunt beginning Nov. 29.
According to city spokesperson Key Budge, the festive program encourages residents and visitors to explore Tehachapi’s shops and attractions during the holiday season. Budge said any brick-and-mortar business or organization within the 93561 ZIP code is welcome to join.
To participate, businesses or organizations must provide a $25 gift card or $25 worth of merchandise, which will be used as prizes for a drawing that will include all participants who complete their scavenger hunt passports.
Starting on Nov. 29, participating businesses will display a stuffed reindeer toy hidden somewhere in their store for scavenger hunters to find. Hunters will have a list of participating businesses to visit and will search for the reindeer in each location.
Upon finding the reindeer, hunters will receive a stamp from the business on their Shop Small Passport. Those who receive at least five stamps in their passport will be entered into a drawing to win gift baskets containing the provided gift cards and merchandise from participating businesses.
The scavenger hunt will end on Monday, Dec. 23.
Breakfast with Santa
Many of Tehachapi’s leading organizations have teamed up to provide Breakfast With Santa this year. Free photos with Santa Claus for the kiddies and a free breakfast of pancakes and sausage plus drinks will be offered from 8 to 10 a.m.Dec. 7 at the Aspen Builders Inc. Activity Center, 410 W. D St.
Sponsors include Kiwanis Club of Tehachapi, Masons of California, Rotary Club of Tehachapi, Salvation Army, Tehachapi Lions Club and Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District.
Hometown Christmas
The city of Tehachapi has again taken the lead for a Hometown Christmas celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 on Green Street and at Centennial Plaza, downtown.
Budge said Hometown Christmas is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, offering fun activities for visitors alongside other Christmas-related events happening around town that day. The event will feature vendors selling holiday-themed items, free crafts and activities for kids, and live entertainment.
Highlights include an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest open to all, an acrobatics performance by the Aerial Garden, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a live nativity, and a free hot chocolate station.
Many local businesses will extend their hours, offering free treats, giveaways, or special discounts on Dec. 7.
The entertainment schedule is as follows:
Green Street Stage: 1 p.m., welcome; 1:30-3 p.m., jazz ensemble; 3:15 p.m. Ugly Sweater Contest; 4 p.m., BVS Ballroom Dancers; 5:30 p.m., parade announcing and special evening performance.
Centennial Stage: 1-3:30 p.m., TNAZ Epic Praise Band; 3-4 p.m., The Aerial Garden; 3:30 p.m.: Christmas Storytime; 4-5 p.m., photos with Santa.
Participants in Hometown Christmas include Catholic Daughters Court, St. Malachy Catholic Church, Tehachapi Mountain Dog Fanciers, Knights of Columbus, Cerro Coso Community College, The Smith and Silva Group, Coldwell Banker Frontier Realty, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Tehachapi City Council, Tehachapi Mountain Democratic Club, The Village Tehachapi Community Garden, Realtor Linday V., Chicago Title, Rotary Club of Tehachapi, Tehachapi Vineyard Church, Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District, Tehachapi Nazarene Church, Garrett’s Goodies Bakery, Chloe’s Dough, Kingbee Apiary, Sweet Sour Candles, Material Matters Quilting Shop, Tehachapi Mountain Quilters, Argabargazarg Crochet, Anytime Fitness, Koinonia Family Services, Salvation Army, The Semerenko Team, Tehachapi Cement, Tehachapi Girl Scouts, Warrior Pantry, THS Girls Soccer, Tehachapi Community Theatre Association, LDS Church, Bear Valley Dance Academy and Stray Leaves Vineyard.
Christmas Book Market
The Friends of the Tehachapi Library will host its annual Christmas Book Market from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, upstairs in the library at 212 S. Green St.
The organization saves all unopened/new items donated throughout the year for this sale.
Christmas and holiday-themed books, children’s books, book sets, audiobooks and cookbooks will be available.
Members and volunteers may shop early at 10 a.m. The $10 annual membership is available for purchase at the sale.
Visitors to the library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day can participate in a free Christmas ornament craft session, and free goodie bags will be offered to the first 100 patrons. A holiday backdrop will be available for photos.
All funds earned are spent locally at your Tehachapi Branch Library.
Christmas Parade
“Joy to the World” is the theme for this year’s Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce.
The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by lighting the community Christmas tree in front of the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum.
This year’s parade will follow a different route. It will begin on F Street at Mulberry Street, continue east to Robinson Street, turn right to Tehachapi Boulevard and continue along the boulevard to Curry Street.
Other downtown events
Other events happening in downtown Tehachapi on Saturday, Dec. 7, include free Christmas movies at the Hitching Post Theaters and photos with Santa at the Tehachapi Depot Museum. Details were not available by deadline.
The festivities will conclude just in time for the annual Christmas Parade, starting at 5:30 p.m.
The evening will culminate with the Christmas Tree lighting at the Depot around 7 p.m.
German Christmas Market
Dorner Family Vineyard’s 5th Annual German Christmas Market will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8.
More than 45 artisan vendors are expected to participate, along with youth artisans and strolling carolers. Yummy food and treats, including gluwein and hot cocoa, will be available and the gift shop will be open.
Dorner Family Vineyard is located at 18724 Old Ranch Road in Cummings Valley.
‘A Christmas Carol’ at Fiddler’s Crossing
A Tehachapi Christmas tradition is returning to Fiddlers Crossing. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” read by Tehachapi’s own Alex Zonn, at 3 pm. on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Zonn will be coming into town from his new home in Georgia. He is well known to Tehachapi audiences, having appeared in many Tehachapi Community Association Theater productions. He is an accomplished actor and voiceover artist with many credits.
Fiddlers Crossing is at 206 E. F St. Tickets will be available at Mountain Music, next door to the venue. A Venmo link is available at fiddlerscrossing.com.
To reserve tickets with a credit card, call 661-823-9994. Tickets to the reading are $15, and as always, coffee and goodies are included. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Holiday concerts
Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra presents “Messiah & More” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Country Oaks Baptist Church, 20915 Schout Road, Tehachapi.
Southern Sierra Pops is offering two free holiday concerts including musicians from Lancaster Community Orchestra and a solo by Christina Scrivner.
The first is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Whiting Center, 26940 Bear Valley Road. The second is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 24300 Bear Valley Road.
Submit your coming events
Local schools, organizations and businesses with events coming up are invited to submit them for publication consideration in this regular feature of Tehachapi News. Send information to editorial@tehachapinews.com (the earlier the better).
— Claudia Elliott