A program in the park was given on December 23rd with singing Santa Claus handing gifts of candy to the children. It was such a success that the next day the program was given again. For the next four years the program was repeated during the Christmas season.

In 1928 , the Chaffey band under the direction of Fred Wilding, along with two glee clubs, directed by S. Earl Blakeslee presented Christmas programs for the community. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce had printed the familiar Christmas carols for handouts to the public.

The merchants in Ontario for 1930 planned an early Christmas present for shoppers. On November 24th the stores were decorated and a plane circled over the Bank of America, (now the Beauty College building located on the north, east corner of Euclid and B Street). A red-clad figure dropped from the plane and landed on the roof of the bank. All watching this spectacle were surprised and delighted when no other than old Saint Nicholas called a merry greeting to all.

Santa tossed number slips of paper to the crowd that gathered. The slips were then exchanged by merchants for gifts they donated. The Christmas spirit in Ontario in later years began to deteriorate. By 1958, community leaders began to feel something better was needed to bring back a sense of family to Ontario.

The Reverend Paul Kennedy of the First Christain Church, and several other community leaders came together as the "Christmas on Euclid Avenue Committee". The committee was under the sponsorship of the Association of Commerce and Industry, later renamed the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the original Christmas on Euclid Avenue committee was to plan programs that would bring back a traditional respect, and meaning for the celebration of Christmas.

Frank Chaffee, and councilman Petersen visited San Diego to view a series of scenes they had on display. The scenes had been designed by the well-know artist Rudolph Vargas. Vargas was contacted by the committee in late 1959. They inquired as to the cost for building scenes of biblical like size figures for display on Euclid Avenue. The committee, in talking to various service organizations, church leaders, and citizens in Ontario, received the backing of the Ontario Kiwanis Club in October , 1959. They paid for the cost of the first Nativity tableaux. Shortly thereafter, the Soroptimist Club donated the second scene for the Christmas season of 1959.

The "Nativity" was the first scene built, the cost was almost $1,500 and the second scene, " Shepherd’s Adoration", cost $1,304.50. Vargas was helped by his wife and two well known scene painters. Wooden cutouts were made by Vargas to plan for each display. In this way he could bring the best qualities into play when working on the actual display. The wooden display cases were built first by the California Youth Authority. Vargas took a personal interest in setting up the first displays.

Over the years, the committee and community have placed ten additional tableaux on display during the Christmas season, bringing the total number of tableaux to twelve. In 1980, citizens and organizations donated funds to have Mr. Vargas’s place a plastic-type finish over each of the biblical figures to "protect them for a lifetime".

Today, "Christmas on Euclid" has become an annual event every holiday season. The funds to upkeep the figurines are earned through the Ontario Chamber of Commerce craft fair every year. With over 10,000 people attending this one day event to purchase homemade crafts. Over 300 craft vendors from as far as Las Vegas, Camarillo, San Diego, and beyond travel to Ontario for this special day. Food and Musical Entertainment add to this community involved project, thus keeping with the original ideas of the committee so long ago. Please join us for the 15th annual Christmas on Euclid Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 5th 1999 from 9am - 4pm. Happy Holidays!