Angels Baseball & Dekra-Lite Knock Christmas Out of the Park
It all started on June 25, 2014 with a record-breaking baseball game.
Not because of the score.
Or RBIs.
Or even any players setting new PRs.
On June 25, 2014 — exactly six month before Christmas — Angels Baseball broke the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing…
Santa hats.
Since that record-setting day, Angel Stadium has celebrated Christmas in June each year. And our elves have had the pleasure of decking the stadium’s halls ever since. This pre-seasonal event has featured toy drives, firework shows, giveaways, Santas in summer attire, carolers, and real live reindeer. But Christmas in June wasn’t always as extravagant — or renowned— as we’ve come to know the celebration today. Let’s take a sleigh ride all the way back to 2014, when the Dekra-Lite elves first received the stadium’s wishlist.
We had big aspirations for the first-ever celebration. But a giant illuminated tree didn’t exactly give the warm holiday welcome the stadium was looking for.
So the diamond donned some classic theme wreaths and garland swags, lined the entrance poles with matching garland, and considered the inaugural celebration a success.
And it’s only grown from there. Each year the stadium introduces a few new pieces to keep its décor fresh, but the core elements have remained tried and true since the first celebration.
When 2015 rolled in, we were ready to WOW. We brought in an 18’ tree dressed in our classic theme ornamentation with a Moravian star tree topper. Talk about an upgrade!
The exclusive Kettle Club featured swag garlands with matching red, green, and gold ornamentation, gold pine cone ornaments, and a giant wreath decorated with the same.
The outfield gained its legendary 12’ wreath in 2015, along with the garlands and wreaths lining the stadium’s walkways.
The fan-favorite 2015 addition, though, was the giant Santa set complete with nutcrackers, toy soldiers, candy canes, Christmas trees, and a fireplace. The perfect halfway-to-the-holidays family photo op.
The following year, we elevated the tree. Literally. With a custom graphic tree base and custom ornaments to match, Christmas in June never looked so bespoke.
2017 brought a photo op fit for a Christmas king, a new tree base and custom ornaments to match, and candy cane colors climbing up the giant hat posts.
With a Happy Holidays sign and regal gold-trimmed red bows hanging above the stadium entrance, this year’s program was one of our favorites.
In 2018 we pitched a simpler style with a red and gold drum base for the tree paired with a toy soldier selfie station. You truly can never go wrong with a classic Christmas theme.
There’s no place like home for the holidays, which is why 2019’s Christmas in June branding was all about creating a cozy Christmas atmosphere.
With a plush, oversized Santa seat in front of a fireplace backdrop and a stocking-clad tree base to match, garland-covered stockings hung above the stadium entrance with care, and fluffy shimmering garlands wrapping the giant hat posts, this year’s program definitely served up warm fuzzy feelings.
Christmas in June 2020 was going to be a homerun — with sleighs lined up and plans moving forward in early March. But Covid stopped the celebration in its tracks, and Christmas in June was put on hold for two long years.
And that’s why we were so excited to be back and better than ever this year.
We’re talking 1,800’ of garland. Ornaments dressed in argyle sweaters. Ohtani snow globe giveaways.
The Angels might have been short on runs during this year’s Christmas in June celebration, and the mercury may have been pushing 90 degrees in the outfield, but there’s one thing there was an abundance of for certain:
Some serious Christmas spirit!
For more shots from the Angels' 2022 celebration, check out our Christmas in June gallery!
Select images courtesy of Angel Stadium.
