By Cailin Acosta
LA MESA, California – On the Erev of Chanukah, my family and I attended the 10th Annual Holiday in the Village event sponsored by the La Mesa Village Association in downtown La Mesa. The festive evening featured live music, holiday cheer, and—this year—a meaningful first for the Jewish community.
One highlight was watching my 13-year-old son’s band, “Bite the Storm”, perform alongside the La Mesa Arts Academy’s Rock U class. The young musicians rocked their rendition of Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice” in front of a crowd of more than 100 people. After the performance—and after enduring what they would call “annoying” photos with bandmates and enthusiastic “groupies”—my twins promptly disappeared in opposite directions. Armed with fully charged phones and Apple Pay funds, they were eager to spend time with friends and away from us “olds,” as they lovingly refer to us.
Their independence gave me the perfect opportunity to explore the village in search of anything Chanukah-related. Outside Johnny B’s Burgers, Brews, and Spirits, a charming mini golf course caught my eye. Children followed the putt-putt path, aiming their golf balls into a menorah-themed target. The hole was marked by two overhanging dreidels. The sight made me smile—especially with Santa and Mrs. Claus happily posing for photos just steps away.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover a booth sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in front of Swami’s Café. Staffed by AJC board members and youth leaders, the booth offered hands-on education about Chanukah, including lessons on how to play dreidel. Regional Director Sara Brown shared that La Mesa Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares personally invited AJC to participate and even stopped by the booth to celebrate with them.
This marked the first time in the event’s 10-year history that Chanukah was visibly represented. In a follow-up email, Brown expressed gratitude for the opportunity and shared that AJC looks forward to participating again in 2026. By the end of the evening, she said, the staff had a wonderful time engaging with hundreds of children and community members.
For those of us in La Mesa and the surrounding area, the inclusion of AJC’s booth was both meaningful and exciting. We are already looking forward to seeing it return next year—and will definitely be encouraging friends and neighbors to stop by and proudly celebrate Jewish spirit in the heart of the La Mesa Village.
Click here for more information on Holiday in the Village, sponsored by the La Mesa Village Association.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.