NEWHALL GETTING JUMP ON HOLIDAYS; DECORATIONS UP, PLANS AFOOT FOR SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Holiday decorations with tiny white lights, designed to boost the shopping district and area residents' spirits, are on their way to downtown Newhall thanks to a contribution by the city's Redevelopment Agency.

It's not yet Halloween, but planning has begun for winter celebrations in Newhall.

The Valencia Choir has signed up to perform, a local Jewish congregation has proposed a performance of Hebrew songs and a church may organize a Kwanzaa celebration as part of the second annual Festival of Holidays.

``If it works, each year we'll add a few more lights here and there. Eventually, I would like to see them go all the way down San Fernando Road, down Lyons Avenue and Railroad Avenue,'' said Councilwoman Jill Klajic, who actively is involved in the Festival of Holidays planning.

The nonreligious decorations, which will go up in late November or early December, have a fir-branch-look and are shaped like a wreath with little white lights on them. They will be attached to street light posts along San Fernando Road.

The city made the $7,000 contribution at the request of the Santa Clarita Civic Association, which is organizing the Festival of Holidays. The city also worked with the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, which plans to host a Noel to Newhall mixer to stimulate business in Old Newhall.

The events fit in with the city's efforts to revitalize downtown Newhall, which is envisioned as a shopping destination with boutiques, cafes and theaters, so the money came from the Redevelopment Agency, said Kevin Tonoian, a city management analyst.

``It not only benefits the association and the chamber, but it also is a nice way to enhance the holiday feeling in the city, and benefit residents and businesses in the Newhall area,'' Tonoian said. ``We let the redevelopment committee choose the look. The decorations are very classy. They'll be very nice.''

The Festival of Holidays, which took place for the first time last year, drew more than 800 people to the San Fernando Road area for seasonal festivities, Klajic said. This year, organizers hope to draw 1,000 visitors.

The city contributed $7,000 toward improvements for last year's event as well, Klajic said. The sidewalks were steam-cleaned and city benches were painted, she said.

This year's festival is scheduled for Dec. 9-11, with a Las Posadas procession and community party taking place Dec. 12, Klajic said.

The idea is to create a multicultural celebration in which Santa Clarita residents can share what they think is special about their traditions, Klajic said.

``That's the hope,'' Klajic said. ``Anyone who does things a little different, a little special - we want them to come down and share it with us. We'll have a choir, a Scottish man is going to come down and play his bagpipes, we may have a Kwanzaa event. And a jazz band will also play Christmas dance songs. It's the whole gamut, and the more the merrier.''