The Light Up Orinda project just got brighter
Thanks to the Light Up Orinda Project, starting Nov. 6 there will be beacons of light that spark our spirits and bring smiles to families in Orinda during the holiday season.
With help from local donations and a vision to beautify the city, the Light Up Orinda project was able to wrap 40 trees with LED lights in downtown Orinda during the holiday season last year.
This historic endeavor was so successful that the Orinda Community Foundation (OCF) adopted the project as one of its core community beautification initiatives. And with the support of OCF and generous community donations, the LED lights that wrap around downtown during the winter season (November through January) will be expanded by adding 71 trees.
This will bring the total to 111 trees throughout North and South Orinda. This expansion is only possible with the help of OCF and the generous community donations.
“With the financial support of OCF, we have been able to almost triple the number of trees lit in downtown Orinda this year,” said Carol Brovelli, co-leader of Light Up Orinda. “The City of Orinda and local business owners have been very supportive and excited about the project too.”
OCF hopes this program will be maintained and supported for many years to come – making the downtown lighting a mainstay during each holiday season.
For years, many Orinda residents and planners have labored to find a way of joining a city that’s been divided by a freeway and this commitment and support will enlighten the spirit with joy and hope and bring the community together.
Kim Straub, co-leader of Light Up Orinda, is happy the lights will connect Orinda’s two sides.
“We are thrilled that Orinda streets on both sides of the freeway will sparkle with holiday lights,” she said. “On the southside, we are particularly excited about lighting the large maple tree near the Mash gas station, because it will be very visible from the freeway. On the northside, we are delighted to be able to light up both sides of Camino Sobrante.”
The Light Up Orinda website (lightuporinda.org) shows green stars to indicate the new trees this year, while red stars show the trees that were wrapped last year.
The kick-off for the tree lighting will be held on Nov. 6 in front of the Community Center at 5:30 p.m. and it will include a celebration with a choir and special guests. All are welcome to enjoy this grand opening.
You can also visit the OCF website to donate at orindafoundation.org. All donations will go directly to the Light Up Orinda project. (https://www.lightuporinda.org/ will connect directly to a website for those who wish to donate.)
“These lights are only possible, due to the generous support of our donors,” added Straub. “And we would like to thank all our donors from last year and welcome all new donations to keep Orinda sparkling this holiday season.”
Last year, 40 trees lifted Orinda’s Christmas spirits as part of the Light Up Orinda Project. This year, that number will jump to 111, thanks to the hard work of local residents and some generous donors.
