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SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A favorite holiday event that went on hiatus after the Valley fire has returned and is once again spreading Christmas cheer across south county communities.
The South Lake County Firefighters Association this holiday season is once again conducting its “Candy Cane Run.”
The association is assisted in presenting the event by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as well as guests of honor, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The first of the three runs took place in Middletown Dec. 8.
“It was great,” association President Todd Fenk said of the first run.
The next two runs are scheduled for Friday in Cobb and Saturday in Hidden Valley Lake, beginning at around 6 p.m. each evening.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on a decorated flat bed utility, with engines and ambulances following, and firefighters handing out candy canes and playing Christmas music.
The Friday night Cobb run will move from Loch Lomond and Highway 175 to Lema Lane and Lema Court, Venturi and Elliott, Venturi and Pamela Drive, Fox and Regina, Upper Fox, St. Helena, Hoberg’s Loop, Pine Summit Pool, Estates Drive and Meadow, Golf Road, Gifford Springs and Starview Loop, with a stop at Black Rock Golf Course.
Saturday’s Hidden Valley Lake run will travel through areas including Mt. Meadow North, Mt. Meadow South, Spyglass, Hidden Valley Road to Deer Hill, Greenridge/Buckhorn, Greenridge to Stonegate and North Shore from the main gate, with stops at Raven Hill Park and Marine View.
While there’s no rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, should rain occur, the Cobb run will be rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 19, and the Hidden Valley Lake run for Wednesday, Dec. 20.
The association has about 20 members, many of whom take part in the planning. Fenk said they can get the events fleshed out within a few meetings.
“We’ve been doing it for many years so it’s not too hard to plan it,” Fenk said.
But, for the last few years, Fenk said the event hadn’t taken place in the wake of the Valley fire, which dealt a big blow to the community.
In Cobb, the year after the fire, “There was really nobody there,” he said.
Instead, in 2015, the association switched gears and worked on a massive toy drive for children impacted by the Valley fire, Fenk said.
Fenk said the volunteers put their hearts and souls into the toy drive. “It was an absolute and total success.”
Now, with the situation in the south county seeming a bit more settled, it was time to get back to the Candy Cane Run, which Fenk said is “a bit of normalcy” after the fire.
“We like to keep the tradition going,” he said.
He added, “The kids love it,” and welcome seeing Santa Claus.
Fenk noted that Santa’s big red suit goes nicely with the big red fire trucks.
Firefighters will be out along with Santa, handing out candy canes and visiting with community members. Fenk said it’s exciting to be a part of it, even on chilly December nights.
“The hearts and joy of the community kind of keep you warm,” he said.
So be on the lookout for a jolly host of firefighters, Santa and Mrs. Claus on a holiday visit over the next few nights.
“If you hear an engine, it may just be Santa coming around the corner” on a fire engine, Fenk said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
