The Carol of Lights is one of Campbell's most endearing traditions that began as a tree lighting ceremony in 1986 to commemorate the re-emergence of the "Roosevelt Tree," a Redwood tree that was planted by President Theodore Roosevelt when he visited the City of Campbell in 1903.

That tree was grown from a seedling of the original tree and is the very Redwood tree that's in front of the Campbell Community Center today. The traditions and festivities surrounding the Carol of Lights have evolved over the years, but one thing has remained constant. It's a celebration to mark the start of the winter holidays in Campbell.

The Carol of Lights is such a cherished tradition that when the City of Campbell was forced to cancel the celebration due to lack of funds in 2005, a private effort to keep the event going was started by Sally Howe. Today the event is paid for by the Downtown Campbell Business Association, but the efforts to keep it going are still entirely a labor of love dependent upon (usually) a single person who cares enough to see that it continues.

Besides Sally Howe, some of the people in the past responsible for ensuring the continuation of the Carol of Lights by heroic individual efforts were Kelly Crowley and Carol Pouya (owner of Tessora's Barra di Vino). This year, Brooke Ramirez (owner of Bombshell Boutique), was that person who put their life on hold and personally saw to it that a tradition that began in 1986 would continue on.

Thank Brooke and Carol if you see them or better yet, do some of your holiday shopping at Bombshell Boutique or go enjoy some wine and tapas at Tessora's.

Photos by DowntownCampbell.com editor, Sheldon Chang. Outtakes and high resolution copies of photos are available on a pay anything or nothing basis. Email sheldon@downtowncampbell.com to inquire.