Deck The Del: Coronado Hotel Kicks Off Season With Santa Skydiving, Fireworks

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego

December 8, 2022

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York ends with Santa on a float. The Hotel del Coronado’s Holiday Festival on Wednesday commenced with Santa floating down.

Hundreds watched and cheered, including many delighted children, as Santa (Ron Lee, CEO of Bonita-based Skydiving Innovations) cork-screwed down to the beach from 4,000 feet.

Trailing smoke — red at the end — he competed his helicopter drop with no incident.

“Pretty standard jump,” said his safety officer, watching on the sand.

Inside the Victorian hotel, Coronado school kids sang. Outside the Del’s Sheerwater restaurant, diners under flaming patio heaters watch ice skaters.

At the central courtyard Garden Patio, with one of several hotel Christmas trees as backdrop, Santa welcomed families for seasonal pictures. (He returns for photos Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24.)

And on the east side, the hotel’s mature pine trees shone with lights dancing to music.

The evening ended with oohs and ahhs — a beachside fireworks show.

Macy’s can’t compete.

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