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For the Las Cruces Railroad Museum website, click here.
LAS CRUCES - There's a reason Christmas has been called the season of lights.
Case in point: Las Cruces' Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Winterfest, both conducted Friday night.
The city's "permanent" Christmas tree, in a grassy area between City Hall and Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, had more than 100,000 lights on it. With a regional television audience looking on, hundreds of residents joined Mayor Ken Miyagishima for countdown that lit the tree shortly after 6 p.m. Friday.
Cheers went up from the crowd as the dark area around the tree was immediately filled with lights of all colors. It even seemed to feel warmer with the glow coming from the tree.
"This is one of those Las Cruces Christmases, where the weather's warm, but everything else looks like snow and cold," said Davin Espalin, a 14-year-old Las Crucen, who said he now has doubts about there being a Santa Claus but isn't jaded about the Christmas season. "There really isn't a Santa Claus, surprise, surprise. But I don't have any problems about still getting gifts."
Friday's ceremony and associated events were a stark contrast to last year, when early-morning snow brought frigid temperatures that Las
"Wow, this is a big change," said Karen Thornton, a Las Cruces homemaker who has now taken her children to the last three tree-lighting ceremonies and Winterfest. "A year ago, we about froze, it was so cold. We came but didn't stay too long because we just could hack (the inclement weather)."
But Friday's ceremonies took place just north of City Hall with temperatures in the 50s.
"What's not to like," said Carlos Moya, a Las Cruces construction worker who brought his young son and daughter. "The tree looks nice, the music was very good, and the kids even got some hot chocolate and a cookie. I think it got us all in the Christmas spirit."
It was lost on most people, but 4-year-old Danny Carter knew that Christmas is three weeks from today.
"I've already got my list for Santa," Carter said. "(I) want a train, a new bike and some coloring books and crayons. Maybe I'll get a laptop, too, but I'd be happy with the train and bike."
The Starlight Children's Theatre Company performed for the hundreds of residents as they waited for the tree to be lit.
"They were absolutely magnificent," said Charmaine Gordon, a retired bookkeeper who moved to Las Cruces seven years ago. "I came here from the East Coast because winters there were just too harsh for me. But those carolers brought back just wonderful memories of growing up in New England and Christmastime there."
For Winterfest, there was something happening, for people of all ages, at primarily four different venues. Even though most of Main Street is torn up and under reconstruction, there were plenty of folks who went from store to store, theater to museum or gallery. Up and down Main Street, all types of live music could be heard. Along Main Street Plaza, between Griggs and Las Cruces avenues, people were able to get in a little Christmas shopping.
They were able to sample - for free - Christmas biscochitos, small Mexican sugar and cinnamon cookies. And, there was more traditional Mexican holiday food to buy, with menudo, posole and tamales - Christmas favorites for many Las Crucens - all for sale.
But everywhere was the lights of Christmas. Music from the gazebo at Pioneer Park drew people there, and luminarias throughout the park lit the way. There were also plenty of lights outside the Las Cruces Railroad Museum, including it's historic caboose which was outlined in strings of Christmas lights.
There were all kinds of activities, all kinds of noise inside the museum. In one area, children made their own Christmas cards or ornaments, and in another kids and adults alike were mesmerized with assorted electric trains.
There were also crafts and activities galore at the historic Amador Hotel, where efforts have begun to restore the once famous hotel as a historical icon.
Celebrating the coming of Christmas won't stop there. Winterfest II will be from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. next Friday, and that will include events at Klein Park, just east of downtown, that focus on the Mesquite Historic District.
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.
Christmas cheer
• The city of Las Cruces Christmas tree was lit Friday night.
• It will remain lit every night through Jan. 3.
• Winterfest, an annual event that highlights downtown Las Cruces, the city's adjoining historic neighborhoods, and the Christmas season, was conducted Friday at Albert Johnson Park, businesses along Main Street, Main Street Plaza, Pioneer Park, the Las Cruces Railroad Museum and the Amador Hotel.
Winterfest II
• Special events to celebrate Christmas in the Mesquite Historic District will be conducted from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11, as part of Winterfest II.
• The event will be primarily staged at Klein Park.
