Holiday Events in the West

West

elana andersen

Holiday Magic, Western-Style

Luminarias light up Old Town Plaza in Albuquerque.

December festivities ranging from parades to displays of glowing luminarias spice group itineraries in the West. Here is just a sampling of the merry options: ARIZONA Prescott transforms into Christmas City over the holidays. See the world’s largest Gingerbread Village with more than 100 structures and electric trains on display at the Prescott Resort, Nov. 20Dec. 31. Fain Park’s Valley of Light has a drive-through, animated light show Nov. 25-Dec. 30. Heritage Park Zoo is illuminated weekends, Nov. 26-Jan. 1, featuring holiday displays, entertainment and refreshments. On Dec. 4, downtown is packed with holiday events including a Christmas Parade, a tree lighting ceremony and other activities. Acker Night, Dec. 10, features 100 musical groups LeisureGroupTravel.com

performing at various venues. (visitprescott.com, ackershowcase.com)

rally; Jan. 1-3 – Post-Parade Showcase of Floats. (tournamentofroses.com)

CALIFORNIA The Golden State’s most celebrated New Year’s tradition is Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade and Game.

Fesvitities surrounding the five-milelong Jan. 1 parade and Rose Bowl Game offer many opportunities for visitors to get into the spirit. Among the events: Dec. 29 – Equestfest, parade equestrian unit demonstrations; Dec. 20-30 – Bandfest, parade band performances; Dec. 28-31 – float decorating; Dec. 31 – Rose Bowl Game kick-off lunch & pep

COLORADO The Olde Golden Christmas celebration includes its Dec. 3 Candlelight Walk along Washington Avenue with participants singing carols and carrying lighted candles. Upon arrival at the creek, the mayor flips a switch turning on holiday lights. Other activities include a Saturday downtown festival between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with a parade, entertainment, carriage rides and reindeer petting corral. (2hourvacation.com ) June 2010 85

Dan Monaghan/New Mexico Department of Tourism

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❖ west Georgetown Christmas Market (Dec. 4-5 & 11-12) steps back to a century-old holiday tradition of St. Nicholas leading the daily Santa Lucia procession of children and townspeople through the historic downtown. Enjoy entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides and a European-style holiday market. (historicgeorgetown.org)

MONTANA Small-town celebrations are found in Nevada City and Virginia City. Events begin on Nov. 27-28 when townspeople and visitors join together to decorate historic buildings. On Dec. 4-5 is the Community Holiday Open House with old-style activities, entertainment and refreshments. Shops offer seasonal

Golden, Colorado stages Saturday parades and other holiday festivities.

NEW MEXICO This state’s holiday celebrations offer a blend of traditions from Western, Hispanic and Native American cultures.

There are spectacular luminaria displays at Albuquerque’s Old Town, the Plaza in Santa Fe and the Pueblo in Taos. All three cities offer traditional Westernstyle holiday events and celebrate cultural traditions like the Hispanic La Posadas, Los Pastores, Blessing of the Animals, Feast of Guadalupe and Winter Market. Native American Pueblo dances and ceremonies honor animals, and New Year’s Day is the Transfer of the Canes ceremony when new tribal leaders come to power. For a complete list of 2010 holiday events contact: Albuquerque, itsatrip.org; Santa Fe, santafe.org; Taos, taoschamber.com 86 June 2010

folk art and gifts, and there are arts and crafts demonstrations and living history events. A Gift and Farmers’ Market features handmade gifts and edibles. (virginiacity.com) OREGON Portland’s Christmas Ship Parade, Dec 9-21, is held nightly on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. A preview performance of all 60 lighted and decorated boats is held on Dec. 4 in Camas. (christmasships.org). At the Oregon Zoo’s Zoolights, Nov. 26Jan.2, there are 200 lighted animated zoo animal displays, plus entertainment, train rides, food and shopping. (oregonzoo.org). The Grotto’s Festival of Lights, Nov. 26 to Dec. 30 follows a path to garden displays and choral and LeisureGroupTravel.com

theatrical performances. Also there are 140 holiday choral concerts scheduled at the Grotto’s indoor venue. Its Christian Gift and Bookstore offers refreshments and a display of nativity sets from around the world. (thegrotto.org).

Pioneer Courthouse Square is host to numerous holiday events including an annual Tuba Concert, Dec. 11, with 200 tubas playing holiday music for a community sing-along. (pioneercourthousesquare.org) TEXAS San Antonio is one of America’s top vacation cities and especially so during the holidays. Millions of twinkling lights brighten the night skies and lead visitors to special seasonal event venues.

A popular activity is to stroll the River Walk where luminarias line San Antonio River’s banks and decorated barges

LeisureGroupTravel.com

float in parade formation. Other activities include holiday theatrical shows, religious festivals and fiestas, concerts, historic site and museum events, and light shows at area attractions, shopping centers and parks. (visitsanantonio.com) UTAH The Tuacahn’s Amphitheater in Inves presents Christmas in the Canyon Live Nativity and Festival of Light (Wed.-Sat., Nov. 26- Dec. 23).

The elaborately staged Nativity is held at the Amphitheater stage at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, except Dec. 3. The Festival of Light is at the Tuacahn Plaza and offers holiday decorations, music, refreshments and Old Salty Train rides. (tuacahn.org) WASHINGTON Leavenworth’s Christmas Lights

West

Festival brightens the Bavarian-style village with thousands of twinkling lights. On December weekends at dusk visitors gather at the town gazebo to greet St. Nicholas, see the holiday lighting ceremony and join the community singing of “Silent Night.”

Throughout the day there are musical performances, sledding and sleigh rides, seasonal personalities and other traditional Alpine holiday activities. (leavenworth.org) WYOMING Sheridan celebrates the holidays with a nightly Christmas Stroll along the city’s Historic Main Street, Nov. 26-Dec. 24. Other activities include seasonal displays, a live nativity scene, horse-drawn wagon and trolley rides, entertainment and fireworks. (sheridanwyomingchamber.org) LGT

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