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LAS CRUCES -- Three horse-drawn carriages, six kinds of cookies, 16 costumed singers, gallons of cocoa, 4,000 luminarias and 100,000 lights illuminating the city's 30-foot-tall Afghan pine await the hundreds, perhaps thousands expected at tonight's Christmas festivities downtown.
The city's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. today at Albert Johnson Park between the new City Hall and the library -- its new and permanent location, Mayor Ken Miyagishima said.
"I've always been a little envious of Mesilla Plaza, which gets all lit up for Christmas, but I think this will rival that," said Miyagishima, who expects about 1,000 people in attendance.
The greeting-card-perfect celebration should be especially magical for families, said Miyagishima, who remembers taking his now-almost-18-year-old daughter to the city ceremony when she was little.
"I still have a letter that my daughter sent to Santa, in my briefcase. She doesn't know I have it," he admitted. "It's priceless ... It changes your whole perspective on things, once you have a child. The holidays become fun because you can see it in their eyes and how they look forward to it."
That's certainly true for the 16 singers in the Starlight Children's Theatre Company, who will perform a medley of traditional Christmas carols -- in three-part harmony -- during the festivities.
"We have choral numbers, we have solos and duets," said director Ginger Scarbrough Andersen. "Two of the numbers are in
Dressed in 19th century top hats, bonnets and capes, the singers, ages 7 to 16, have been rehearsing "intensely" since October for their first exciting foray into the city's holiday celebration, Andersen said.
"I think this'll be the biggest crowd we've been in front of," she said. "Knowing how hard they had to work to get to this point, and being up there with the mayor, I think they're very excited about that ... This helps them feel connected to the community of Las Cruces."
And, likewise, attendees should come ready to join in the melodies -- a sing-along is planned.
After the tree is lit and the carols sung, "huge crowds" are expected to take part in Winterfest 2010, which will include horse-drawn carriage tours of the historic districts downtown, provided by Pete Paulson's Frontier Adventures, said Las Cruces Downtown Partnership President Greg Smith.
Thousands of luminarias will flicker along the route, which includes the historic Amador Hotel and Rio Grande Theatre, carolers and vendors at the corner of Griggs Avenue and Main Street, art and entertainment at Pioneer Park, and model trains and refreshments at the Las Cruces Railroad Museum, in the historic Santa Fe Depot.
"The ride should be fun and it's not going to be as cold as last year, according to the weather forecast," Smith said. "Last year, the schools closed, it was a snow day, it got down to 18 degrees."
Smith, who owns a 1920s home in the historic Mesquite district, said the combination of the city's tree-lighting festival and the downtown Winterfest will be the shape of holiday celebrations in Las Cruces for years to come.
"There's energy and excitement downtown," he said. "The degree to which this will ramp up in years to come is exponential."
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462
If you go
• What: Annual city Christmas tree lighting ceremony
• When: 5:30 p.m. today
• Where: Albert Johnson Park, between the new City Hall and Branigan Library. To be followed by Winterfest 2010 between Las Cruces and Griggs avenues.
• Information: (575) 541-2200
Spirit of the season
A sampling of other holiday events this weekend:
• The La Casa Holiday Bazaar opens tonight from 5 to 8 at the new Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave. Admission is $15 and includes refreshments, live entertainment and artwork.
• The Schola Cantorum of Santa Fe will present "El Ni-o -- The Christ Child" at 7 tonight in the Basilica of San Albino, 2070 Calle de Santiago in Mesilla. Donations will be accepted. For information, call (575) 526-9349.
• The American Southwest Theatre Company presents "A Christmas Carol," at 7:30 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at NMSU's Hershel Zohn Theatre. For tickets, call (575) 646-4515.
• The Opening Night Gala for the Las Cruces Community Theatre's holiday play, "Greetings!" will be at 8 tonight, with post-performance drinks and buffet. Tickets are $10 for adults with discounts available. For information, call (575) 523-1200 or visit lcctnm.org online.
• An Arts & Crafts Christmas Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Mikey's Place, 3100 Harrelson St. Free admission and parking. Info: (575) 640-3869 or mikeysplacenm.com.
• A Cowboy Holiday Class will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road. $5 per person. Info and registration: (575) 522-4100.
• The Cutter Gallery, 2640 El Paseo Road, will host a Holiday Gallery Show from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, featuring ceramic artists Susi and Richard Bergquist. For information, call (575) 541-0658.
• The Starlight Children's Theatre will perform the "Festival of Carols," a joyful celebration of the music of Christmas, at 2 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium at Good Samaritan Society, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. Free.
• The Vista Middle School Bell Choir will entertain at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, inside Mesilla Valley Mall.
• The New Desert Harmony Singers and the Do-a Ana Youth Choir present "It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year" at 7 p.m. Saturday at the O-ate High School Performing Arts Center, 5700 Mesa Grande Drive. Tickets are $10. Info: (575) 522-1659.
• The NMSU Campus and Gospel Choirs join for a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 Downtown Mall. Info: (575) 646-2067, riograndetheatre.com.
• Citywide menorah lighting and other events starting at 4:30 p.m. Sunday on the Mesilla Plaza. Info: (575) 524-1330.
• The MottPotts & Friends/MVS Studios Holiday Show, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 2653 Snow Road in Mesilla, features art, refreshments and raku firings at noon and 2 p.m. Info: (575) 635-6644.
• Eight local organists will play music for Advent, Christmas and beyond at 5 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Boutz Road. Free. Info: Peter Young, (575) 532-9239 or lascrucesago.org.
