Bianca Gallegos
It all happened over night.
No more monsters crept out after dark and rather than generating screams, the former haunted house, now a Christmas tree lot, inspires joyous Christmas jingles.
From scary to merry, The Foundation for Pierce College converted the corner of De Soto and Victory avenues, once an empty lot that sat on weeds three feet deep, into a functionally active place for families.
“It gives this special corner of the college, that’s long been neglected, a spirit,” said Dennis Washburn, director of the Foundation for Pierce College.
“Our goal is that when they come in for October or for December they are coming here for experience, they come in for the environment,” said Robert McBroom, festival director of Santa’s Magical Wonderland.
Whether to purchase pumpkins or Christmas trees, or to catch a lift through the farm on the Winter Wagon Ride, people come to the area for the entertainment and holiday experience.
This year, the college wanted to take it further than just the standard Christmas tree lot.
“At night we light up the whole place and have some entertainment for the youth,” said McBroom.
“We’ve also got a 3-D Santa Show where you wear special glasses and could see Santa Clause and his helpers,” he said.
During the evenings and weekends, carolers from Pierce’s Philharmonic Choir and San Fernando Valley Master Chorale will be singing an assortment of holiday songs.
On the Christmas tree side, a large variety was on display for sale.
The lot is set up so that more than 1,200 trees in water can be appreciated.
From traditional Noble Firs, to the Hybrid Norman tree, with its two tone golden green color and white needle, to the Grand Fir that disperses a really incredible smell, the college has them by the dozen.
“All these trees that you see are in water to keep them fresh. We have a selection of special trees,” said Mc Broom who spent more than $4,000 to ship trees from out of state.
“We’ve found people who really like the trees,” said McBroom.
Shannon Carberry, 21, a Christmas tree salesperson, said seeing a wide selection of Christmas trees to pick from can be intimidating, especially when one doesn’t know the differences between them.
“I already had two people yesterday and today wanting me to pick out their tree,” she said.
Through asking questions of how tall, wide or skinny they want their tree, Carberry guides her costumers to a satisfactory purchase.
“I tell them it’s an experience to pick out the tree. You have to love it…” she said
In addition to Christmas trees, the lot offers related Christmas paraphernalia such as wreaths and misteltoe in the locations semi-permanent stand at Victory and Mason. ()
While Santa will arrive this week for daily children’s visits, the location still bears the orange remnants of the fall Harvest Festival. ()
