GUSTINE – The community will celebrate the holiday with its “Olde-Fashioned Christmas at Home” festivities Saturday.

Visitors and families reunited for the long Thanksgiving weekend will celebrate the Christmas season with events ranging from the community breakfast to the tree-lighting and colorful lighted Christmas parade which brings the day to a close.

“It’s just a fun day,” said Glen Beard, president of the Gustine Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the activities. “We’re always excited about it.”

The Saturday after Thanksgiving has long been the day Gustine ushers in the holiday season.

What started as a chamber-sponsored community breakfast has evolved into a morning-to-night celebration packed with activities that include craft booths, a Santa’s Workshop, fire truck rides and, of course, the lighted Christmas parade that has become a signature event for the festivities.

Started as a lighted truck and tractor parade, the event has expanded to feature an array of entries.

This year’s tree-lighting and lighted parade features the theme, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” said organizer Tiffany Vitorino.

“We’re asking the community to come in their pajamas,” Vitorino pointed out. “Warm pajamas,” she added.

Parade awards will be presented for best farm entry, best use of theme, best diesel truck entry, best youth entry, best organization/group entry, judges’ choice and president’s choice.

Vitorino said a large parade is anticipated, particularly if the weather cooperates. “We’re hearing from a lot of people who plan to participate,” she noted.

The tree-lighting begins at 6 p.m., with the parade to follow. Entertainment includes performances by students from Cornerstone Dance and Westside Academy of Dance, numbers by the community choir involved in the upcoming production of “Sarah’s Blessing” in Newman, and more.

The Christmas tree and decorations this year are sponsored by the Our Lady of Miracles Society and Gustine Pentecost Society.

The 20-foot tree will be one of Gustine’s tallest ever, and will sport brand new decorations, said organizer Florie Nunes. “The two organizations agreed to purchase the tree and the decorations,” said Nunes. The chamber purchased new lights for the tree, she noted.

J&F Fertilizer donated a new tree stand, and the tree will be adorned by a star crafted by Louie Spinazzie.

Following is the day’s schedule of events:

• The community breakfast with Santa Claus will be held from 8-11 a.m. at the GPS Hall. Last year, about 900 breakfasts were served. The meal is offered free of charge; donations are accepted.

• Downtown visitors can browse craft booths and take in the Westside 4-H Club petting zoo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “We have some new crafters signed up this year,” said Beard.

• Gustine’s Marsha-Borrelli Silva will be signing copies of her children’s book, “Sarah’s Blessing,” during an open house from 10 a.m. to noon at the Gustine Museum.

• Children can take part in an array of holiday crafts at the Santa’s Workshop, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Westside Academy of Dance.

• Fire truck rides will be offered from 1-3 p.m. Trucks will load next to the Valley Antique Mall.

• The tree-lighting program begins at 6 p.m., with the lighted Christmas parade to follow at approximately 6:30, bringing a close to another festive holiday celebration in Gustine.

For additional information about the Olde-Fashioned Christmas, call the Gustine Chamber of Commerce at 854-6975.