"The Village is just beautiful with all the lights," Mayor Kathleen King said. "Everybody is in a good mood."

King will give an opening speech at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 for Saratoga's third annual tree lighting. After the mayor's speech, the live holiday fir tree in Blaney Plaza will light up the night, signaling the start of the holiday open house in the Village. The open house on Big Basin Way is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.

Santa Claus will be there. Christmas lights, holiday music, caroling, hot cider and a horse-drawn carriage will give the Village a holiday feel. Businesses on Big Basin Way will stay open late the night after Thanksgiving, offering their customers a few free snacks for those wanting to get a jump on their holiday shopping.

Chris Van Hoy, owner of Curves For Women on Big Basin Way, will sing in front of the memorial arch at Blaney Plaza. Wendy Morgan-Hunter will lead the Marshall Lane Choir, also performing at Blaney Plaza.

Erin Dunham works at Bella Saratoga as a server, bartender and manager. She describes herself as owner Bill Cooper's Girl Friday. She said once again the popular restaurant would participate in the Village open house. "We'll be serving our bread pudding right in the front of our restaurant," she said. "It's the best thing on the menu, in my opinion. But I have a pretty big sweet tooth."

Dunham said Bill and his wife Ellen decorate their restaurant for the holidays on Thanksgiving Day. "Once you walk into Bella's, it has this Victorian era feel of Christmastime," she said. Dunham said the tree lighting brings the community together. "It gives a really warm feel to the Village."

The event attracted an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people last year, drawn downtown by the charm of the Saratoga Village.

For King, the day will be a long one. She is spending the Thanksgiving weekend in Cayucos on the Central California coast. She will make the three-hour drive back to Saratoga for the grand opening of the McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center at Saratoga High School, and then will lead the tree lighting ceremony before participating in the Village open house. She plans to drive back to Cayucos the same night. She said she doesn't mind. "It's fun to see the tree light up," she said. As a member of the Village Ad Hoc Committee, she's happy to see that most of the businesses in the Village are participating and getting into the spirit.

The city of Saratoga and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the event.

For more information, call 408.868.1269.