SANTA WILL LIGHT TREE SUNDAY EVENT IS AT HOSPITAL.

Byline: Daily News

VALENCIA - The Santa Clarita Valley will usher in the holidays at the 17th annual Community Tree Lighting, a celebration that has become a tradition for many local families.

The free Yuletide event will be held from 2 until 5 p.m. Sunday on the front lawn of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia.

The afternoon program, sponsored by The Newhall Land and Farming Company in partnership with the hospital's Health Foundation, offers traditional holiday entertainment and activities and is capped off with the lighting of the community tree by Santa Claus himself.

Activities will include several free children's holiday crafts, face painting, train rides, a petting zoo and refreshments. Children can pen their wishes to Santa and send them via a special mailbox with express delivery to the North Pole, and Santa will respond to all letters containing a return address.

Entertainment will include a traditional opening from the 150-member Newhall School District Chorus and a fun variety of musical, dance and strolling entertainment.

The event culminates with the lighting of the community Christmas tree, which stands at the hospital's Orchard Village Road entrance. Through the Foundation's Gift of Life Program, residents and businesses can make symbolic contributions toward lights and ornaments on the tree in honor of friends or loved ones. The proceeds will support patient care services at the hospital.

Admission and activities are free. For information on this tree-lighting event, call 255-4476.