2,000 Experience Burrage Christmas drive-thru

By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective

Falling darkness helped illuminate a quarter-mile stretch along West Crescent Avenue in Redlands, where hundreds of vehicles passed winter wonderland and Christmas-themed displays as part of the sixth annual A Burrage Christmas.
The Burrage Mansion, owned by the Rochford Foundation, had several scenarios at the base of its fenced hill during its Dec. 14 event. Families passed the displays on their way to be greeted by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

There was a scene from "The Grinch"; there were fellows dressed up like Frosty and his cohorts. A living nativity scene and characters from "The Nutcracker" were among the exhibitions along Crescent Avenue that were cordoned off by Christmas lights.
Foundation co-founder Tim Rochford helped deliver stockings to many of the kids being driven through the procession, as vehicles approached with their headlights off to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, played this year by Jim Eastwood and Shirley Horton, and hear Christmas tunes being performed by Redlands’ own Kalama brothers, Ryan Keau and Kai Kalama.

Members of The Grove School’s jazz band provided interludes when the brothers needed a break.
Stockings were filled with coloring books, crayons, gift cards, and certificates to places like The Frugal Frigate children’s bookstore and Lappert’s Ice Cream & Milkshakes, as well as Burrage Mansion ornaments.

The Clauses were selected to hand out stockings specifically to children in 19 vehicles who were special visitors in programs at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
Five hundred cars were registered to go through the procession; all slots were filled up within 40 minutes of the sign-ups going live.
Rochford posed with nearly 50 volunteers before the event started and told them, “We’re going to bring lots of joy today, and we couldn’t do it without all of you,” including police Explorers and winter wonderland characters, and members of the Redlands City Council.
Kristin Rochford, granddaughter of Tim Rochford, stood along the route to observe the activities.
“I’ve been part of this for the past five years,” she said. “It started during COVID, and thought it would be just for a year. It keeps growing and probably will never go away — everyone wants to be involved.”
Judy Golding, a volunteer who came out with several other members of the American Legion Post 106 of Redlands, was impressed with the turnout. It was the first time she had witnessed the event.

“The turnout was amazing. The cars just kept coming,” Golding said. “It was a really joyful event.”

Councilman Paul Barich said, “It’s nice that the whole community comes together for this. We welcome people from all over, and get to brag about how wonderful our city is.”
Tim Evans, a committee member of A Burrage Christmas, whose Unforgettables Foundation is a sponsor of the event, lauded Rochford for providing the event for the community.
“Tim is a generous and wonderful guy, who truly embodies philanthropy,” Evans said.