- Home
- Of Interest
- December in Southern New Mexico-there's a lot to do!
December in Southern New Mexico-there's a lot to do!
- By Phyllis Eileen Banks
- Published 01/8/2003
- Of Interest
- Unrated
Phyllis Eileen Banks
Phyllis Eileen Banks is both writer and artist.Her articles have appeared in Southern New Mexico Magazine, FYI, Vision Magazine, Roswell Daily Record, New Mexico Magazine, Ranger Rick, Concern, Anchorage Daily News, and other periodicals. In addition, with Cynthia Smith she authored The Anchorage Fun Book.
Much of her experience has been as an editor.Her editorial experience includes The Alaska Presbyterian, The Alaska Heart, newsletter of the Alaska Heart Association, the book COCAHINIA (Consultation on Church and Human Need in Alaska), and Roaming Southern New Mexico.
"I have invisible antennae that 'vibrate' when something doesn't seem right.Of course editing someone else's work is easier than editing one's own," she says.
People stories, historical pieces, and travel writing are her favorites.She and her husband, Hal, moved to New Mexico from Alaska.
"New Mexico has some of the same mystic of Alaska – wide open spaces, different cultures.The transition was easy," says Eileen."It is truly The Land of Enchantment and no matter where you reside you carry it with you."
Phone:727-544-3713
View all articles by Phyllis Eileen Banks
 |
Electric Light Parades
Early in December seems to be the favored time for the light parades. December third, Lordsburg hosts a Moonlight Madness Light Parade which offers a unique and exciting shopping extravaganza. At the Space Center in Alamogordo also on December third there is a Laser Light Show, a different kind of light. December fourth electric light parades are scheduled in Clovis, Lovington, Roswell and Socorro. The one in Socorro is titled "Christmas Candy Cane Electric Light Parade." Most of these involve the community’s participation with floats and music. Similar celebrations like the "Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony" in Las Cruces at Johnson Park and the "Tree Lighting Ceremony" in Cloudcroft occur on December third. "Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting" in Hobbs occurs December fourth.
Celebrations with a Difference
December fourth and fifth, Carlsbad stages "Balloon Glow" with dozens of hot air balloons and airplanes. But the biggest event in Carlsbad actually begins in November - "Christmas on the Pecos." One hundred participating homeowners along both sides of the Pecos River decorate their yards in elaborate layouts with lots of lights and symbols of Christmas. Much time is spent planning these fantasies. The three cruising passenger boats leave from the Pecos River Village on the eastern edge of Carlsbad, taking 50 minutes to quietly float down and back again. Attendees are advised to wear something warm and take blankets as the night air is chilly on the water. It’s a lovely experience for anyone and especially families. It continues through New Year’s Eve (except Christmas Eve). Advance reservations are required.
Carrizozo has a Holiday Hoedown the first weekend in December but the really big event involves the entire community - the Annual Luminaria Display December twenty-fourth. It begins with the placing of the luminarias and candles around the railroad, churches, private homes and businesses all over town. Then at 9 p.m. the lighting ceremony begins. What a unifying experience this must be.
Still in Roswell on December eleventh, the International UFO Museum and Research Center presents its lecture series with Percy Galloway at 7 p.m. He was in the U.S.Army "Blue Brigade," (though never recognized by the military) whose mission was to collect UFO related information.
If you’ve always wanted to relive the Old Wild West, you can take part in The Last Great Cattle Drive December 15-20. Five hundred head of cattle will cover the 65 miles from Roswell to Lincoln, retracing the historic cattle drive blazed by John Chism in 1870. December twenty-first, the Hubbard Museum of the American West, Ruidoso Downs, closes the event with the End of the Trail Fandango.
In Las Cruces, December 10-12, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church holds its fiesta and a torchlight ascent of Mt. Tortugas. In Lincoln on December fourth, the Visitors’ Center will host a Kids Christmas Party from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Carver Public Library, Clovis, has chosen December 2 and 3 for its book sale and also in Clovis, there will be a Christmas Ball on December 18 at the American Legion Hall. In Lovington, December fifth is the Mainstreet Home Tour and the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico, and the Altrusa Club will host the Christmas Home Tour in Roswell, December 12, culminating at
Shakespeare Ghost Town (2.5 miles southwest of Lordsburg) joins the events on December 11 and 12 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with a re-enactment of an 1872 gunfight. The blacksmith shop is open and there are stories and history of the real West.
Ruidoso has scheduled its Festival of Trees for December third and fourth. A silent auction of decorated trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses plus music, dance, food, kids activities and Santa beckons people to the Ruidoso Convention Center.
Deming’s Green Tea on December fifth is a fund raiser by donation for the Museum and Customs House, with Christmas decorations, refreshments, and live musical entertainment sponsored by the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum.
Musical Christmas Events
If music is your preferred way of celebrating Christmas, Alamogordo will present The Messiah with local church and community singers at 7:30 p.m. December tenth. Truth or Consequence has its Community Chorus Annual Christmas Concert on December fifth. The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra will present a Pops Festival Holiday on December fourth and fifth. The Roswell Symphony Orchestra gifts the community with its special Christmas Concert December fifth. The Spencer Theater of the Performing Arts in Alto has scheduled on December 18, 8 p.m., The EDLOS, Christmas Carols acappella by four male ex-opera singers. At dusk, December 24, there will be Christmas Carols and luminarias on the old Mesilla Plaza in Mesilla.
Dramatic Christmas Events
The Nutcracker Suite could rightly be listed under music as well as drama. It is being performed December 16-19 at 7 p.m. by the Las Cruces Chamber Ballet in the New Mexico State University Recital Hall. The Dance Studio 87 presents its version at Deming High School on December eleventh and twelfth sponsored by the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum.
Another perennial favorite, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will be presented at several locations. In Alamogordo at Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts December sixth at 7:30 p.m., the announcement describes it "...an outstandingly talented touring company of Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ will recreate mid-1800s London before your very eyes. A holiday extravaganza which is forever old, forever new, this elaborate production complete with fog, falling snow, the eerie ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, witty humor and chamber musicians brings to life the Charles Dickens’ holiday classic." On December eleventh at 2 & 8 p.m. it will be presented in Alto at the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts. The Mimbres Region Arts Council and the Grant County Community Concert Association will present it on December seventh in Silver City.
"And to All a Goodnight" should be listed last but it will be performed December 10-12 by the London Frontier Theatre Company in Magdalena. LFTC announces it is making Magdalena its permanent home, creating original theatre adapted to its western setting. With local history - nomadic and pueblo tribes, conquistadors, cavalry clashes, cattle drives, glory-hole mines and the legend of Magdalena Mountain - dramatic possibilities are as limitless as Magdalena’s high-plains settings, as warmly human as its small town, Old-West community. Founded in Salt Lake City in 1991, a reviewer gave it this accolade "Small house, experimental theatre at its best."
Arts and Crafts for Christmas
Ten galleries participate December fourth in the last of a series of open houses for the High Country Treasure, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in Magdalena (26 miles west of Socorro). "A Victorian Christmas" on December sixteenth in Silver City is an old-fashioned, time honored event. Yankie Creek Gallery, Silver City, will have its open house December tenth. Hillsboro’s Christmas Craft Co-op will be open December 3-5;10-12;17-19, 10 to 4 p.m., Exit 63 off I-25, 12 miles south of Truth or Consequences. In addition on December 12, their Christmas in the Foothills features shops, homes and studios decorated for the holidays. A Christmas Gala is scheduled for Sunday, December twelfth, at The Gallery, 107 E. 5th Street, Roswell, honoring the 20 local member artists (painters, potters, sculptor, calligrapher, jeweler and photographer).
Out-of-the Ordinary
Elephant Butte has planned the most unusual Christmas celebration for December 17: its 10th Annual Night Light Golf Tourney, played with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. There will also be luminarias, a live manger scene, and singing groups. Thousands of lights will illuminate the road to the golf course, the fairways and tees at the Oasis Golf Course. And on December 17 and 18 the Second annual Beachwalk takes place with the Park trail lined with luminarias at Elephant Butte Lake State Park.
These are the efforts of some communities in Southern New Mexico to celebrate Christmas in a special way.