The Campbell Reporter
News
Christmas in July may keep Carol of Lights shining bright
By Stephanie Condon
Organizers of last year's Carol of Lights are trying to rally the community's holiday spirit early this year.
The Carol of Lights committee, a group of Campbell business leaders and residents that organizes the annual event, is hosting a "Christmas in July" casino night fundraiser. The group hopes to raise at least $20,000 from the July 14 casino night at Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell.
The Carol of Lights has been dependent on community support since 2005, when the $38,000 event was eliminated from the city budget to help reduce the city's deficit.
Organizers kept the cost of last year's event below $35,000, said Mike Katz, a member of the Carol of Lights committee and owner of Cool Kat Appliance Repair. The money was raised through donations from small business owners, residents and several large companies such as Pepsi.
"We decided we don't want to put this on by begging every year," said Sally Howe, a downtown business owner and publisher of The Campbell Express, who heads the Carol of Lights Committee.
Since last year's event, the Carol of Lights committee has been designated as a 501c(3), a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
Katz said the Carol of Lights committee hopes to expand its budget for this year's event, especially considering how popular it was last year.
"It was a lot of troubleshooting, a lot of learning on the road, but it was extremely successful, and we were excited by the turnout and response from the city," he said.
Within four hours, Katz said, about 1,000 people visited the "snow park," a portion of Second Street that was converted into a winter wonderland and covered with 3 feet of snow. This year, he said, the committee plans to expand the snow park and add a second snow park for younger children. There will also be more attractions for children, such as an inflatable jump house and slide, to help avoid long lines for other activities.
"We're going to use the same space but more efficiently," Katz said.
To help make that happen, the Christmas in July fundraiser committee is charging $50 per person. For that price, attendees receive $1,000 in poker chips, blackjack, roulette, craps and other games. The entrance fee also covers hors d'oeuvres, one beverage and a raffle ticket valued at $10.
The items to be raffled include a 52-inch flat-screen TV, a 6-megapixel digital camera and a Panasonic DVD/VCR player. There will also be a silent auction.
Awards will be handed out to the top gamblers, a DJ will play Christmas music and Santa Claus will make an appearance decked out in Hawaiian shorts.
Four hundred to 500 people attended a recent casino night fundraiser at Villa Ragusa held for EHC Lifebuilders, Katz said, and the committee hopes to replicate that success.
Cary Stover of Padgett Business Services, the committee's treasurer, said they felt compelled to keep the event up and running for the children in the community.
"It's the quintessential small downtown Christmas celebration for Campbell," Stover said.
The event is unique because it is free, Katz added.
"It's something for parents who are squeezed for time and money come Christmas time and the holiday season," he said. "Being able to have a night that doesn't cost anything and have fun with your family is great."
The Christmas in July casino is scheduled for July 14 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Villa Ragusa, 35 S. Second St. Event or raffle tickets are available at the Campbell Express, 334 E. Campbell Ave., or call Mike Katz at 408.410.6193. Participants in the raffle do not need to be present at the event to win.
