Gold Medal Olympian Dorothy Hamill was the celebrity guest at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on El Paseo in Palm Desert. The Shops on El Paseo blocked off the street by Monterey Ave for this event. Hundreds of families brought children to see this famous Olympian and of course to see Santa Claus.
The tree is 60 feet tall and stands on top of the GUCCI store on El Paseo. It is lit with thousands of lights and can be seen for miles around. A Red Carpet with Manny the Movie Guy as emcee, greeted guests and Hamill. Hamill came with her husband John MacCall.
Entertainment was provided by a large band with many singers, singing a lot of Christmas songs. Local vendors provided various kinds of food and drinks as people walked along the street. The event raised money for Bighorn Bam group that helps women with mammograms, pap smears and other treatment women and children need. Hamill is herself a Breast Cancer Survivor.
