With some magical help from Santa Claus, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital will officially kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the Community Tree on Sunday, December 5. The lighting is the culmination of the 25th annual Community Tree Lighting celebration which begins at 2 p.m. on the hospital campus.

The annual tree lighting is a wonderful tradition for families and friends. Many of the adults who attended the event as children are now bringing their own children and creating fond family memories. This year’s event will be in celebration of Henry Mayo’s new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), scheduled for construction in 2011.

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The free festival includes music and entertainment provided by hospital staff, local school’s children choirs, dance studios, and performers.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will usher in the holiday season with their arrival and magically light the holiday tree at dusk.

“As always, we extend our sincere thanks to Barry and Nancy Gump of Andy Gump, Inc., and their employees, and to electrician Bud Rose and the many other volunteers who every year donate their time, talent, and resources to make this special tradition a success,” said Roger Seaver, president and CEO of Henry Mayo. “It takes weeks of planning and preparation to make sure everything is ready for Santa. We couldn’t do it without them.”

Other program elements will include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating, refreshments, and much more.

Visitors to the event will be directed to the parking lot areas northwest of the hospital’s main building due to construction of the hospital’s new parking structure. A free shuttle service will deliver visitors to and from the parking and event areas. Visitors can enter the hospital campus from Orchard Village and McBean Parkway entrances.

In addition, everyone is invited to participate in the Gift of Life program with a special sponsorship of a light or ornament in honor or in memory of their loved ones. Sponsorship levels range from $25 (light), $50 (icicle), $100 (snowflake), $250 (ornament), $500 (star) and $1000 (treetop). Sponsorships will be inscribed in a Gift of Life recognition on a special display at the celebration and can be viewed on the hospital’s website at www.henrymayo.com throughout the month of December. A commemorative holiday ornament will be sent to donors, and all donations benefit Henry Mayo Hospital’s new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), scheduled for construction in 2011.

The Community Tree Lighting celebration is free and open to the public and will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 5 on the hospital’s campus at 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia.