Inglewood’s holiday season officially kicked off on Dec. 2 with the city’s largest- holiday celebration, attracting an impressive crowd to the event.
Prairie Avenue, stretching between The Intuit Dome and The Kia Forum, kicked off the event with a festive parade before the Kia Forum parking lots hosted lively performances, holiday workshop stations, and the much-anticipated holiday tree lighting ceremony.
The event, powered by Kia, highlighted the community spirit of Inglewood with participation from local schools, community organizations, and businesses. The grand lighting of a massive Christmas tree in front of the Forum, marked the city’s biggest holiday event to date, according to Mayor James Butts.
“This is the greatest time in the history of the city of Inglewood. This is our biggest Christmas tree lighting ceremony ever,” Butts said, who helped start the tree lighting portion of the celebration. The mayor also announced a giveaway of thousands of toys and gift cards to families in attendance.
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In addition to the tree lighting, the evening featured a holiday-themed performance from the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. Local celebrities and personalities joined in the fun, including appearances by the LA Clippers Dance Team, Ms. California USA, and rap legend Mack 10, who is an Inglewood native.
“Being from Inglewood and seeing how far it has come, it is just going to keep getting better,” said Mack 10, reflecting on the transformation of his hometown.
As families gathered under the glow of the holiday lights, they enjoyed hot cocoa, cookies, and the festive atmosphere. For many, the event was a reminder that the holiday season is not just about presents but about community and shared moments of joy.
Meltonya Bell, who brought her grandson, great-grandson, and their friends to the event, expressed the significance of such gatherings.
“This is exciting for the kids,” she said. “You get to talk to people you don’t know. People are helping each other. It’s what the community does. We enjoy each other.”
Nine-year-old Kali Jones, who attended the event with his family, said the Christmas festival had become a new tradition.
“It brings back a lot of memories from last year, and now it is something to look forward to each year,” he said with a smile.
Gary Kennon, father of six-year-old Nasir, echoed those sentiments.
“I’ve been living in Inglewood for seven years, and events like this are always a special time. It’s about coming together as a community,” he said.
