Shop At Home night on Dec. 1

Here comes Santa Claus, walking down the front street, headed to the Wrigley Stage…

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again.  Get ready for the 19th Annual Shop At Home event to kick-off the holiday season from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The Shop At Home event is the Island’s traditional Chamber of Commerce-sponsored festive evening full of Avalon’s unique small town charm and camaraderie. It reminds the local folks that living (and shopping) on Catalina really can lead to… “A Wonderful Life.”

Here comes Santa Claus, walking down the front street, headed to the Wrigley Stage…

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again.  Get ready for the 19th Annual Shop At Home event to kick-off the holiday season from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The Shop At Home event is the Island’s traditional Chamber of Commerce-sponsored festive evening full of Avalon’s unique small town charm and camaraderie. It reminds the local folks that living (and shopping) on Catalina really can lead to… “A Wonderful Life.”

The Chamber designed the Shop At Home event as a one-night shopping extravaganza with strolling carolers and prize drawings.

The Chamber started the event 19 years ago.

“It was an idea brought to us by Katrina Awalt of Two’s Company and Family Jewels of Catalina,” said Wayne Griffin, president and CEO of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. “She had been to an event like it in another small town and thought it would be a good idea for Avalon.”

According to Griffin, the idea is not to necessarily break the bank in sales that evening, but to try and show locals what they can purchase in Avalon without having to go to the mainland.

“It’s turned into a local, family celebration,” Griffin said. “For the merchants the idea is to get people out and into the local shops and let them see what’s available. They can get discount cards that are good over the holiday shopping season.”

The evening starts with a holiday tree lighting ceremony on Wrigley Stage. You may have a photo of you and yours taken with Santa. Just bring two canned goods for a food drive from 6 to 8:30 p.m. to El Galleon Restaurant.

Meet at the Wrigley Stage at 5 p.m. for the Community Tree Lighting as Santa and “his helpers” arrive on a fire truck. There will be strolling carolers entertaining the crowd.

There will also be a collection of Toys 4 Tots. All of the toys collected will be distributed to local, needy children who might not otherwise get a gift this season.

For more information, call the Chamber at (310) 510-1520 or visit the3 web site: www.CatalinaChamber.com.