If there is ever a time of year when the weather cannot dampen spirits, it is undoubtedly the holiday season – especially here in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. And in spite of the dark, gloomy skies and temperatures in the 40s, the holidays officially started in Lamorinda on Sunday, Dec. 7, with the annual “It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette” celebration, which this year outdid itself in attendance, merriment, and sheer joy. Hundreds of merrymakers — some estimates put the number at over 1,000 — gathered in Lafayette’s cultural center, Plaza Park, for the not-to-be-missed wintertime event hosted by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.

    Spirits certainly burned bright (perhaps thanks to the hot chocolate provided by the Rotary Club) as local lads and lassies not only performed for adoring parents and grandparents, but also accompanied Santa as he made his customary police-escorted entrance to the Plaza to usher in the holiday season. Booths lined the Plaza offering all types of holiday fare, from wreaths to sweets, while diners at the restaurants surrounding Plaza Park had ringside seats to the festivities, making their gastronomical adventure all the more merry. Festive celebrations such as this are another reason why we are so lucky to live in Lamorinda.