While residents of Villa Victoria began decking their halls with colored lights and Christmas characters starting around Thanksgiving, the community gathered shortly after dark on Wednesday, December 9 to mark the holiday season with a tree lighting in Plaza Betances at 100 West Dedham Street followed by a dinner and celebration at Villa Victoria Center for the Arts at 85 West Newton Street.

Mayor Walsh greeted the community for the holidays, with Villa Victoria native and Boston chief of health and human services Felix G. Arroyo; state Rep. Byron Rushing, South End liaison Sam Chambers, Boston Police Department (BPD) Sgt. Lucas Taxter and Jessie Zimmerer, assistant to state senator Sonia Chang-Diaz also in attendance.

After the lighting, about 225 community members packed the arts center, which was filled with poinsettias, for dinner, music and gifts. Santa Claus sat by a big, bright Christmas tree listening to children's Christmas wish lists, IBA (Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción) CEO Vanessa Calderón-Rosado made the rounds to greet guests and the musical group Tipiquiendo con Sabor, which includes residents of Villa Victoria's Torre Unidad, played Puerto Rican classics and parrandas (Puerto Rican Christmas songs) with audience members joining them to dance onstage. Guests were called table by table to a buffet catered by Vejigantes restaurant located across West Dedham Street from Plaza Betances consisting of roast pork, red snapper, arroz con gandules (rice with beans, olives and capers) and white rice, empanadas, maduros (sautéed plantains), house salad and potato salad.

Toward the end of the party, flan with strawberries was served for dessert. Guests received tickets upon entering and as the evening concluded, staff from IBA and Villa Victoria management company Maloney Properties drew numbers and the children helped distribute prizes including gift certificates, household items and poinsettias courtesy of Maloney. Summing up the holiday event, Calderón-Rosado said, "I'm very excited because it was record breaking in terms of attendance and people seemed to enjoy themselves. I am very happy that so many people came out."