SIMI VALLEY — A longstanding holiday tradition that dates back to the 1970s, the Simi Valley Family YMCA Y’s Men’s Club will be once again selling Christmas trees at the Y this year. Trees are available from December 3 through December 17.
Also taking place on December 3 is a Breakfast with Santa. Kids and families can get their pictures taken with Santa, enjoy breakfast, hot cocoa and play in real snow. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There will be inflatables, a snow slide, holiday activities, a tree raffle and face painting. The cost is $10 per child (15 and under) and $5 per adult (children 2 and under are free). Register for the breakfast at www.sevymca.org/breakfast-santa.The YMCA is still looking for sponsors for this event.
The YMCA will have about 850 trees, mostly Nobile, Grands and Douglas firs between 6′ and 9′ tall. The trees are grown in Oregon, harvested, and then packed in ice for their two-day journey south to the Y. Once they arrive, they are unloaded, given a fresh cut at the base, put in water and set out for display. Y’s Men’s Club members and volunteers staff the tree lot.
“We open a week later than most tree lots to guarantee the freshness of our trees,” says Curtis Brown, Y’s Men Club present who has been managing the tree lot for over 20 years. “Our trees are the last trees cut of the season.”
Proceeds from the tree sales go to organizations in the community as well as to the YMCA. “Our lot has a great atmosphere,” says Brown. “Our all-volunteer staff makes it fun.”
Christmas tree lot hours are 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The tree lot and Breakfast with Santa are at the Simi Valley YMCA (3200 Cochran St., corner of Galena Ave. and Cochran St.).